Greek · Strong's G3340
μετανοέω
metanoéō (met-an-o-EH-oh)
verb
To change one's mind so deeply that the whole orientation of life turns—biblical repentance, turning from sin to God.
Metanoeō is built from meta ("after, with a change") and noeō ("to perceive, think"). At root it means to think differently afterward—to undergo a change of mind. In classical Greek it could describe simple regret, but in the Septuagint and the New Testament it is filled with a stronger Hebrew freight: the prophets' call to shuv, to turn back to Yahweh with the whole person.
Biblical repentance is therefore neither mere remorse nor a single emotional moment. John the Baptist demands fruit "worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:8). Jesus opens His public ministry with "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), pairing the verb with faith as the two sides of conversion. After Pentecost, Peter answers the cut-to-the-heart crowd with the same word (Acts 2:38), and Paul summarizes his whole mission as preaching that people "should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:20).
Repentance is also continuous in the Christian life. Five of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation call already-believing congregations to metanoeō (Revelation 2:5, 16; 3:3, 19). And Scripture is clear that this turning is itself God's gift: "the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4), and He "granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18).
Common English renderings
- repent
- turn
- change one's mind
Key verses
"From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Read in context →
"and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel."
Read in context →
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish."
Read in context →
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Read in context →
"The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:"
Read in context →
"As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
Read in context →
Related words