what does repent mean

Repent means more than simply feeling sorry. It is a sincere turning away from wrongdoing that combines 1) recognition and honest acknowledgement of the wrong, 2) genuine sorrow or remorse, and 3) a deliberate decision to change one’s mind, heart, and actions. True repentance usually includes practical steps—confession or apology, efforts to repair harm, and habits or choices that show the person is no longer committed to the same behavior. In ordinary (nonreligious) use, repent describes someone who accepts responsibility for a mistake and actively works to correct it. In many religious contexts, especially Christianity, repent also involves turning to God for forgiveness and allowing that inner change to reshape daily life. Key differences often noted: regret or remorse can be only an emotional response; repentance adds a moral turn and concrete change. Examples: She repented of taking money and returned it, apologizing to those she hurt. He regretted his actions, but only when he stopped repeating them did his regret become repentance. Signs of genuine repentance are consistent behavioral change over time, efforts to make amends, and a sincere commitment not to repeat the wrongdoing.