Forgiveness

Across the canon

In the King James text (133 verses)

Every verse where Scripture speaks of forgiveness, gathered by word. Quoted below: a spread across the whole canon, Old Testament and New — never more than two from any one book. The complete list is one click beneath them.

1. Genesis 50:17

   So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 50:171 voice

   “The servants of the God of thy father - These words were wonderfully well chosen, and spoken in the most forcible manner to Joseph’s piety and filial affection. No wonder then that he wept when they spake to him.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 50:17→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Numbers 14:18

   The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

   ›Commentary on Numbers 14:181 voice

   “That is to say, God will not punish us at once for our thoughts and resolves but will send retribution upon their offspring, that is, upon the evil deeds and habits of sin which arise out of them.

   Everything gathered on Numbers 14:18→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 1 Samuel 15:25

   Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:251 voice

   “Pardon my sin - Literally, bear my sin; take it away; forgive what I have done against thee, and be my intercessor with God, that he may forgive my offense against him; turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 15:25→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. 2 Chronicles 6:21

   Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Psalms 25:11

   For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Lamentations 3:42

   We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Micah 7:18

   Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Matthew 6:12

   And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 6:122 voices

   “And forgive us our debts,.... Nothing is more frequent in the Jewish writings than to call sins חובי, "debts"; and the phrase, of forgiving, is used both of God and men.

   “And forgive us our debts - Sin is represented here under the notion of a debt, and as our sins are many, they are called here debts. God made man that he might live to his glory, and gave him a law to walk by; and if, when he does any thing that tends not to glorify God, he contracts a debt with Divine Justice, how much more is he debtor when he breaks the law by actual transgression!

   Everything gathered on Matthew 6:12→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Acts 2:38

   Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

   ›Commentary on Acts 2:382 voices

   “For whereas in the Gospels, and in the epistles of the apostles, the name of Christ is alleged for the remission of sins; it is not in such a way as that the Son alone, without the Father, or against the Father, can be of advantage to anybody; but that it might be shown to the Jews, who boasted as to their having the Father, that the Father would profit them nothing, unless they believed on the Son whom He had sent.

   “Peter said unto them, Repent - Μετανοησατε; Humble yourselves before God, and deeply deplore the sins you have committed; pray earnestly for mercy, and deprecate the displeasure of incensed justice. For a definition of repentance, see on Mat 3:2 (note). And be baptized every one of you - Take on you the public profession of the religion of Christ, by being baptized in his name; and thus acknowledge yourselves to be his disciples and servants.

   Everything gathered on Acts 2:38→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 2 Corinthians 2:7

    So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

    ›Commentary on 2 Corinthians 2:71 voice

    “So that contrariwise - On the other hand: on the contrary. That is, instead of continuing the punishment. Since the punishment was sufficient, and has answered all the purpose of bearing your testimony against the offence, and of bringing him to repentance, you ought again to admit him to your communion. Ye ought rather to forgive him - Rather than continue the pain and disgrace of excommunication.

    Everything gathered on 2 Corinthians 2:7→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Hebrews 9:22

    And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

    ›Commentary on Hebrews 9:222 voices

    “460. – Then (v. 22) he continues with other cleansings in the Law. But cleansings were of two kinds: one from bodily stain, as leprosy, the other from spiritual, namely sin. The first could pertain to inanimate things, as the leprosy of houses: and the …

    “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood,.... All "except a few things", as the Arabic version renders it; for some things were cleansed by water, and others purged by fire, Num 31:23. Some join the word almost with the word purged, as if the sense was, that all things were purged by blood, but not perfectly, only almost; but the former sense is best.

    Everything gathered on Hebrews 9:22→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. 1 John 1:9

    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    ›Commentary on 1 John 1:92 voices

    “For see yet again: "If we say," he says, "that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." All the more fully: "Little children, these things have I written to you, lest ye sin; and if ye shall have sinned, an Advocate we have with God the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and, He is the propitiation for our sins.

    “If we confess our sins - Pardon in the Scriptures, always supposes that there is confession, and there is no promise that it will be imparted unless a full acknowledgment has been made. Compare Ps. 51; Psa 32:1-11;; Luk 15:18 ff; Luk 7:41 ff; Pro 28:13. He is faithful - To his promises. He will do what he has assured us he will do in remitting them.

    Everything gathered on 1 John 1:9→

    Verse page →Original language →

Words searched, at word start, across the King James text: forgiv… · forgave… · pardon… · remission…

Lives that met it (3)

Curated character profiles whose own account speaks of forgiveness.

• GadDavid's Seer · United MonarchyGad the seer served David from the outlaw years through the kingship. He delivered God's direction during David's cave period (1 Sam 22:5), announced the judgment after David's census (2 Sam 24; 1 Chr 21), and helped organize the Levitical worship (2 Chr 29:25).
• JosephVizier of Egypt · PatriarchalJoseph rose from pit to palace through God's providence. Sold by jealous brothers, he became Egypt's vizier and saved his family from famine. His life powerfully prefigures Christ's rejection and exaltation.
• StephenFirst Christian Martyr · New TestamentStephen was one of the seven chosen to serve the early church's Greek-speaking widows, full of faith and the Holy Spirit. His bold defense before the Sanhedrin and vision of the glorified Christ led to his stoning, making him the first martyr of the Christian church.