Repent About Repentance #3 – What Does Repent Mean in Greek?

So far in this series we’ve looked at the occurrences where God repents in the Greek Old Testament, and how this is carried over into several English versions.  We’ve also examined how Josephus uses repentance, and how it is often employed in morally negative or morally ambiguous situations that do not result in people reforming their behavior or turning to God.

Here’s a roadmap for this series on repentance:

Part I – God’s Repentance

Part II – Repentance in the Writings of Josephus

Part III – What Does Repent Mean in Greek?  Examining Bible Dictionaries and Lexicons.  << You are here.

Part IV – The Relationship Between Repentance and Ignorance

In this article, we’re going to look at Bible dictionaries and lexicons, and what definitions of repent and repentance they might provide.  Bible Dictionaries and lexicons can give us significant insight into the definition of a word.  At the same time, dictionaries are not the Word of God; they are not infallible and so have the possibility of error.

The primary terms we will consider are repent, a translation for the greek verb, μετανοέω, transliterated as metanoeo.  Some of the most recognizable verses where metanoeo is found would be Mark 1:15, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30, Acts 26:20.

The other is the greek noun μετάνοια, transliterated metanoia.  Some of the most recognizable verses where metanoia is found are Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32, Luke 24:47, Acts 26:20, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Timothy 2:25, Hebrews 6:1, and 2 Peter 3:9.

So, we will be looking at the definitions for repent and repentance independently, but with the understanding that these are just the verb form and noun form of the same root word, and should have very similar meanings.  Much like how there is a noun and verb form for faith/believe, pistis and pisteou, the same is true of repentance/repent.

Method for Selection

My goal in looking at these definitions is not to provide an exhaustive summary of every definition that’s ever been given on metanoeo/metanoia. What I’d like to do is provide are resources that are reputable and can be easily verified.

Here is my selection procedure:

1. The Bible dictionary defines repent and/or repentance based on the Greek.  This may seem obvious, but some dictionaries do not.
2. The dictionary/lexicon is available for free, via download or online.
3. Dictionary/Lexicon is reputable and has stood the test of time.
4. Just a dictionary entry.  I’m not considering encyclopedias or systematic theologies in this post.  I’d like to deal with the etymology before moving on to resources that deal more with interpretation and specific uses of the word.

Where can I access these resources?

Strong’s Bible Dictionary:  Available in hard copy, or download with E-sword software at E-sword.

Thayers: download with E-sword software at E-sword.

Easton’s: download with E-sword software at E-sword.

Liddel and Scott: Available online at at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu.  Then look for “Greek and Roman Materials.”  This is a fantastic resource on Greek literature and definitely worthy of a bookmark.

Vines: Available online at Blue Letter Bible.

King James Dictionary: Available online at Blue Letter Bible.

Metanoeo

Repent is a compound word formed from “meta”, which means “amid” or “with,” and “noeo,” which means “to exercise the mind.”  Thus, the word literally means, “accompanied by an exercise of the mind,” or “with understanding.”   Any reputable Bible dictionary or Greek-English Lexicon will first define “repent” in this way.

• • Thayer:  (1) To change one’s mind, (2) To change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins.
  • Strong’s: to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): – repent.
  • Easton’s Bible Dictionary- “Metanoeo, meaning to change one’s mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with the cognate noun metanoia, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised.”
  • Henry George Liddel, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon: perceive afterwards or too late; concur subsequently
  • King James Dictionary: (1) To Change One’s Mind & Purpose; Regret. (2) To lament one’s actions; turn again.
  • Vines: lit., “to perceive afterwards” (meta, “after,” implying “change,” noeo, “to perceive;” nous, “the mind, the seat of moral reflection”), in contrast to proneo, “to perceive beforehand,” hence signifies “to change one’s mind or purpose,” always, in the NT, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always, except in Luke 17:3,4, of “repentance” from sin.

Please note that I have shortened the Vine’s entries due to length.  Please see the full version at Blueletterbible.org.

I would like to highlight Easton’s statement “as the result of after knowledge,” which means that after new information is given or somehow obtained, then someone repents.  This is also evident in Liddel and Scott’s entry, “concur subsequently.” Repentance is often a reaction to new information or a way of thinking.

Easton’s first use of the term “purpose” does not mean specifically one’s life purpose or mission in life, but purpose in the immediate connection with what people are repenting about.  That could be one’s life purpose, one’s purpose in creating something or doing something, even one’s purpose in not doing something.  Thayer’s definition below even uses purpose in this general sense. The context reveals which purpose a person/persons may be repenting about.

Metanoia

The noun version, translated as “repentance,” is defined similarly by Bible dictionaries, though more seem to attach the idea of regret to metanoia than they do to metanoeo.  Metanoia comes from the same words “meta” and “noeo,” so we should not be surprised to see virtually identical definitions.

• • Thayer: a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done
  • Strong’s: (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision): – repentance.
  • Easton’s: same as above.
  • Henry George Liddel, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon: A.change of mind or heart, repentance, regret
  • Vines: “afterthought, change of mind, repentance,”corresponds in meaning to A, No. 1, and is used of repentance from sin or evil, except in Hbr 12:17, where the word “repentance seems to mean, not simply a change of Isaac’s mind, but such a change as would reverse the effects of his own previous state of mind.  Esau’s birthright-bargain could not be recalled’ it involved an irretrievable loss.

What all this amounts to is that there is good evidence that the primary idea of repentance is a change of mind.  Several of the dictionaries we have looked at make mention that new information or understanding is often involved (Strong’s, Thayer, Easton’s, Liddel & Scott), which leads to the change of mind.  This is why I will typically define the word as: “change of mind based on new information or understanding.” This is universal and applicable to all uses of the word. Some synonyms which may convey the gravity of repentance slightly better would be “rethink, reconsider, or think again.”  I have rarely seen a use of repentance where the change of mind was of little significance.

As I’ve noted before, the term repentance could have special significance when used in a Christian context, so this is one area that we will want to examine once we start looking at New Testament passages.  But, this would have to be something born out by the uses of the word, not an assumption prior to looking at the uses of the word.

I really like the cautions that Marg Mowczko has to say about the usage of Bible dictionaries and lexicons:

“Even if the definitions in these dictionaries approximate the possible meanings of a given Greek word, they usually do not adequately provide a cultural or literary background as to how the word was used by the original speakers and authors. Even a simple, short phrase such as kalon ergon (which is easily translated as “a good deed” or “a fine work”) has a depth of meaning that differs depending on the text and cultural context (e.g. Mark 14:6 cf. 1 Tim 3:1 NIV).

Knowing the definition of a particular Greek word and its grammar is useful, but sometimes it is not enough information to give an understanding of how and why that word (or a phrase) is used in a particular sentence. A dictionary definition does not always give the sense the author intended. It does not alert us to any rhetorical devices being used, devices such as hyperbole or irony. And it may not note the use of idioms. Moreover, information about the etymology of words, which is included in some dictionaries, can mislead people about how the words were used, and what they meant, in real life. An understanding of the Greco-Roman culture, and a knowledge of the literature written around the same the time as when the New Testament was written, are important in helping our understanding of New Testament Greek.”

Next time we will get into some New Testament uses, I promise!

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