μετανο-έω G3340
repent, change one's mind — to undergo a fundamental reorientation of heart and conduct toward God
Metanoeo (from meta 'after' + noeo 'perceive') literally means to change one's mind, but in biblical usage it deepens into a thoroughgoing transformation of will, allegiance, and behavior before God. Its 34 occurrences carry immense theological weight: John the Baptist opens his ministry with the imperative 'Repent!' (Matt 3:2), Jesus takes up the identical cry (Matt 4:17), and Peter issues it at Pentecost (Acts 2:38). The word presupposes a prior state of rebellion and announces that a decisive turn is both possible and urgent. In Revelation, the risen Christ commands five of the seven churches to repent (Rev 2:5, 16, 21-22; 3:3, 19), showing that even the redeemed need ongoing metanoia. German 'Busse tun' and French 'se repentir' both capture the inward-turning gravity of the concept.
Senses
1. repent, change one's mind — To undergo a decisive change of mind and heart, turning from sin toward God. Inaugurates the preaching of both John the Baptist (Matt 3:2) and Jesus (Matt 4:17), and becomes the apostolic call at Pentecost (Acts 2:38; 3:19). In Revelation, the risen Christ demands it of five churches (Rev 2:5, 16, 21; 3:3, 19), demonstrating that repentance is not a one-time act but an ongoing posture before God. 34×
AR["تابوا", "تَابُوا", "تَتُبْ", "تَتُوبُوا", "تُبْ", "تُوبُوا", "يَتوبوا", "يَتُوبُوا"]·ben["অনুতাপ-কর", "অনুতাপ-কর,", "অনুতাপ-করল", "অনুতাপ-করে", "তারা-মন-ফেরাল", "মন-ফিরাও", "মন-ফিরিয়েছিল", "মন-ফেরাও", "মন-ফেরাও,", "মন-ফেরাও:", "মন-ফেরাও।", "মন-ফেরায়", "মন-ফেরাল"]·DE["Busse-tun", "tut-Buße"]·EN["Repent", "repent", "repented", "they-repent", "they-repented", "they-should-repent", "you-repent"]·FR["se-repentir"]·heb["חָזְרוּ-בִּתְשׁוּבָה", "יָשׁוּבוּ-בִּתְשׁוּבָה", "שָׁבוּ", "שׁוּב", "שׁוּב-בִּתְשׁוּבָה", "שׁוּבוּ", "שׁוּבוּ-בִתְשׁוּבָה", "תָּשׁוּבוּ"]·HI["पछतअये", "पश्चाताप-किया", "प्रेरितों-की", "मन-फिरा", "मन-फिरा,", "मन-फिराए", "मन-फिराएँ", "मन-फिराओ", "मन-फिराओगे", "मन-फिराया", "मन-फिरा।", "वे-मन-फिराएँ"]·ID["Bertobatlah", "Bertobatlah,", "Bertobatlah:", "bertobat", "bertobatlah", "bertobatlah,", "bertobatlah.", "kamu-bertobat", "mereka-bertobat", "orang-bertobat"]·IT["pentirsi", "ravvedersi"]·jav["Mratobat-a", "Mratobata,", "Mratobata:", "Sumangga-mratobat,", "mratobat", "mratobata,", "mártobata", "piyambakipun-sedaya-mártobat", "sami-mratobat", "sami-mratobat."]·KO["마음-이", "회개하도록.", "회개하라", "회개하였다", "회개하였으니", "회개하지", "회개한다면"]·PT["Arrepende-te", "Arrependei-vos", "arrepende-te", "arrependei-vos,", "se-arrependeram", "se-arrependerem", "vos-arrependerdes"]·RU["Покайся", "Покайтесь", "Покайтесь,", "кайтесь", "каялись", "покаетесь", "покайся", "покайся,", "покайся.", "покаются", "покаялись"]·ES["Arrepentíos", "Arrepiéntete", "arrepentíos", "arrepiéntete", "os-arrepintiereis", "se-arrepientan", "se-arrepienten", "se-arrepintieron"]·SW["Basi-tubu", "Tubuni", "hawakutubu", "msipotubu", "tubu", "tubu,", "tubu.", "tubuni,", "utubu.", "walitubu", "watubu"]·TR["-o", "Tövbe-edin", "onlara", "tövbe-ederseniz", "tövbe-edin,", "tövbe-et", "tövbe-etmediler", "tövbe-etsinler", "tövbe-ettiler"]·urd["توبہ-کر", "توبہ-کرو", "توبہ-کریں", "توبہ-کی", "توبہ-کیا"]
Matt 3:2, Matt 4:17, Matt 11:20, Matt 11:21, Matt 12:41, Mark 1:15, Mark 6:12, Luke 10:13, Luke 11:32, Luke 13:3, Luke 13:5, Luke 15:7 (+22 more)
Related Senses
H3212 1. go, depart, travel (884×)H1980 1. to go, travel (Qal) (283×)G4198 1. go, proceed (physical movement) (139×)H1980 2. to walk in conduct (Qal) (132×)G0565 1. go away, depart physically (112×)H3212 2. walk in, follow a way (79×)G5217 1. go, proceed (78×)H1980 3. to walk about, traverse (Hitpael) (63×)H5162 1. comfort, console (Piel) (51×)G4043 1. conduct oneself, live (48×)G4043 2. walk physically (47×)H5162 2. relent, repent, change mind (Nifal) (35×)H1980 4. to walk habitually (Piel) (30×)H4546 1. highway, raised road (25×)H5637 1. be stubborn, rebellious (17×)G0391 1. conduct, way of life, behavior (13×)H3212 4. lead, bring, cause to go (13×)G1485 1. custom, habit, established practice (12×)H5162 3. be comforted, receive comfort (Nifal) (10×)G4198 2. walk, conduct oneself (figurative) (8×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μετανο-έω, perceive afterwards or too late, opposed to προνοέω, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to προβουλεύομαι, Refs 3rd c.AD+; concur subsequently, τισι Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 change one's mind or purpose, Refs 5th c.BC+; μ. μὴ οὔτε.. τῶν χαλεπῶν ἔργων ᾖ τὸ.. ἄρχειν change one's opinion and think that it is not.., Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 repent, NT+5th c.BC+; ἐπί τινι Refs 1st c.AD+: with participle, μ. γενόμενος Ἕλλην Refs 2nd c.AD+ __4 with accusative, repent of, τὴν ἄφιξιν Refs 1st c.AD+