Rethinking “Repentance”
Rethinking “ Repentance”: A Linguistic and Theological Clarification Introduction: Why Repentance Is Misunderstood The English word “ repent” evokes ideas of sorrow, guilt, and turning away from sin. But this common interpretation can sometimes oversimplify or misrepresent the original meanings of key biblical terms in Hebrew and Greek . Part of the confusion stems from the Latin Vulgate translation, which often used the word paenitentia ( penance) to translate Hebrew and Greek concepts— giving rise to associations with remorse, confession, and punishment rather than covenantal return or transformational rethinking. Let us explore the five major terms often rendered as “ repent” and recover their rich, original intent . 1. נִחַם ( nacham) — “ to be moved” / “ to relent” / “ to be comforted” Sample verse: “ And the LORD repented ( וַיִּנָּחֶם) that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” — Genesis 6: 6 ( KJV) Meaning: The root nacham car...