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Repentance. This word, and the verbal form `repent' is used to translate two
Hebrew words, nacham and its derivatives, and shub; and the Greek words
metamelomai and metanoeo and their derivatives. Nacham which is familiar to
English readers in the name of the prophet Nahum, and which can be discerned
in the name Noah, primarily means `to sigh'. It will therefore cover a gamut
of human feelings. It means (1) to mourn (2) to grieve (3) to regret (4) to
be comforted. The feeling of regret, gives the meaning `repent'. Shub means
to turn, or return, and it will be recognized in the name of Isaiah's son
Shear-Jashub `The remnant shall return', and when they do return, they will
indeed repent! Shub is only translated `repent' three times, namely in 1
Kings 8:47; Ezekiel 14:6 and 18:30. The two Greek words differ in that
metamelomai which is a compound of melei `to care, or be concerned', means
`an after care, to rue, regret; to have pain of mind, rather than change of
mind; and change of purpose, rather than change of heart', whereas metanoeo
means `to perceive afterwards, an after mind'. `This change is always for
the better, and denotes a change
of moral thought and reflection' (Dr. E. W. Bullinger, Lexicon). Plato used
the word metanoeo in its primitive sense, saying:
`These things are indeed possible to those who understand them before,
but to those who understand them afterwards irremediable'.
Repentance as it applies to Dispensational Truth can be considered
under three headings:
(1)
As used of God,
p. 40.
(2)
As used of Israel,
p. 43.
(3)
As used of the Gentiles,
p. 54.
(1)
As used of God.
References in the Old Testament speak of God `repenting'.
Gen. 6:6
`It repented the Lord that He had made man'.
Gen. 6:7
`It repenteth Me that I have made them'.
Exod. 32:12,14
`Repent of this evil against Thy people. The Lord
repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people'.
Jud. 2:18
`It repented the Lord because of their groanings'.
1 Sam. 15:11
`It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul'.
1 Sam. 15:35
`The Lord repented that He had made Saul king over
Israel'.
Psa. 90:13 `Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent Thee
concerning Thy servants'.
Psa. 106:45 `He ... repented according to the multitude of His
mercies'.
(Further references are Deut. 32:36; Psa. 135:14; Jer. 18:8,10; 26:3,13,19;
42:10; Joel 2:13,14; Amos 7:3,6; Jon. 3:9,10; 4:2; Hos. 13:14). To these
must be added those passages which declare that the Lord will not repent.
Num. 23:19
`God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of
man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not
do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?'
1 Sam. 15:29`The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is
not a man, that He should repent'.
Psa. 110:4 `The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent'.
Ezek. 24:14 `Neither will I spare, neither will I repent'.