Repentance

Repentance (נֹחִם, μετάνοια) signifies a change of the mind from a rebellious and disaffected state to that submission and thorough separation from iniquity by which converted sinners are distinguished (Mt 3:2-8). Repentance is sometimes used generally for a mere change of sentiment, and an earnest wishing that something were undone that has been done. In a sense analogous to this, God himself is said to repent; but this can only be understood of his altering his conduct towards his creatures, either in the bestowing of good or infliction of evil — which change in the divine conduct is founded on a change in his creatures; and thus speaking after the manner of men, God is said to repent. In this generic sense also Esau "found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears;" that is, he could not move his father Isaac to repent of what he had done, or to recall the blessing from Jacob and confer it on himself (Heb 12:17; Ro 11:29; 2Co 7:10). There are various kinds of repentance, as

(1) a natural repentance, or what is merely the effect of natural conscience;

(2) a national repentance, such as the Jews in Babylon were called unto, to which temporal blessings were promised (Eze 18:30);