50 Bible Verses about Repentance
Imagine standing before a canvas, holding a brush dipped in the colors of redemption and change. That canvas represents our lives, and the brushstroke we’re about to make is called repentance. It’s not just a churchy word; it’s a heartfelt turn toward God, a step closer to His love.
In this journey through Bible verses about repentance, we’re taking a closer look at what it means to change our hearts and minds in the light of God’s truth. We’ll explore stories of people who turned from their old ways and found forgiveness. These stories remind us that no matter what we’ve done, God’s mercy is always ready to welcome us back.
Come with us as we open the Bible and uncover verses that show us how to embrace a fresh start. From the words of Jesus to the Psalms of David, we’ll see that repentance isn’t just saying sorry; it’s a way of growing closer to God every day.
50 Bible Verses about Repentance
Let’s learn together how God’s forgiveness can transform our lives as we walk this journey of faith.
Acts 3:19
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Luke 13:3
“I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
2 Corinthians 7:10
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
Matthew 4:17
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'”
Psalm 51:17
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Ezekiel 18:30
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.”
Mark 1:15
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Acts 17:30
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
Jeremiah 15:19
“Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.'”
Luke 15:7
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Joel 2:13
“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Acts 2:38
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”
Revelation 2:5
“how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
Psalm 32:5
“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
Luke 5:32
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
James 4:8-10
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
Acts 26:20
“First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”
Matthew 3:8
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Revelation 3:19
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
Isaiah 55:7
“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
Luke 24:47
“And repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Jeremiah 31:19
“After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.”
Matthew 3:2
“And saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'”
Jonah 3:10
“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”
Luke 24:46-47
“He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.'”
Psalm 38:18
“I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.”
Acts 11:18
“When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.'”
Ezekiel 33:11
“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?'”
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Acts 5:31
“God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.”
Jeremiah 3:22
“Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.”
Revelation 9:20-21
“The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
Romans 2:4
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
Hosea 14:1-2
“Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.'”
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Luke 3:8
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
2 Samuel 12:13
“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.'”
Matthew 9:13
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Nehemiah 1:9
“But if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.”
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us settle the matter. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Matthew 11:20-21
“Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.'”
Acts 8:22
“Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”
Psalm 145:18
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Jeremiah 15:19
“Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.'”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Revelation 2:21
“I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.”
Ezekiel 33:14
“And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right—”
Acts 26:19-20
“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”
Matthew 12:41
“The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.”
Conclusion
These verses remind us that no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, God’s mercy is always ready to meet us with open arms.
Repentance isn’t just about feeling sorry; it’s about a sincere desire to turn toward God and walk in His ways. We’ve seen how stories of repentance, from the pages of Scripture, inspire us to leave behind our old selves and step into the newness of life that God offers.
May these verses continue to guide us on our journey of faith. May they remind us that it’s never too late to turn back to God and experience His unending love. Let’s allow the lessons of repentance to shape our hearts, draw us closer to God, and help us become more like the people He designed us to be.
