How many times is repent mentioned in the Bible?
The word repent appears 46 times in the King James Version, in 43 verses. Counting every form (repent, repentance, repented, repenteth, repenting), it appears 110 times in 103 verses across 28 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses repent 39 times (73 with every form).
Repent in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of repent counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| repent | 46 | 39 |
| repentance | 26 | 23 |
| repented | 32 | 10 |
| repenteth | 5 | 0 |
| repenting | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 110 | 73 |
Which books mention repent most
Repent appears in 28 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Luke has the most (14), then Revelation (12) and Jeremiah (11).
Also in: Amos (2), Jonah (2), Romans (2), Numbers (1), Deuteronomy (1), 2 Samuel (1), 1 Kings (1), 1 Chronicles (1), Job (1), Hosea (1), Zechariah (1), 2 Timothy (1), 2 Peter (1).
First and last mention of repent
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
The verse that uses it most is 1 Samuel 15:29, 2 times (tied with Luke 15:7, Acts 26:20, 2 Corinthians 7:8, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Revelation 2:5 and 1 more):
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
Where the two translations differ
36 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 2 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Genesis 6:6: counted in the KJV only
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Yahweh was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart.
Genesis 6:7: counted in the KJV only
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Yahweh said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky—for I am sorry that I have made them.”
Hosea 11:5: counted in the World English Bible only
He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
“They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.
Zechariah 1:6: counted in the World English Bible only
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
But my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn’t they overtake your fathers? “Then they repented and said, ‘Just as Yahweh of Armies determined to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our practices, so he has dealt with us.’”
Verses with repent on our topic pages
21 verses that use repent in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
On: Patience, Salvation, Mercy, Repentance
I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
On: Joy, Repentance, Evangelism
Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
On: Joy, Angels, Repentance
But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
On: Mercy, Repentance
Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
On: Baptism, Repentance
“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
On: New Beginnings, Repentance
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
On: Repentance, End Times
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
On: Repentance
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
On: Repentance
From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
On: Repentance
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
On: Repentance
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
On: Repentance
Common questions
How many times is repent in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 44 of the 110 uses are in the Old Testament and 66 in the New Testament. Repent appears in 28 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Luke has the most (14), then Revelation (12) and Jeremiah (11).
Where is repent first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Genesis 6:6: "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." The last is Revelation 16:11.
Read the full collection: Bible Verses About Repentance (22 Verses).
More word counts: kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, eternal life, Son of Man, rest, patience, obey, worship, or all 107 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-02.