Repent

The Hebrew word translated repent means “to turn back” or “turn around.”  The word is used of the receding floodwaters (Gen. 8:3).  The prophets commonly used this word to call the Israelites to a radical, conscious rejection of their past sin.  A psalmist used the word to describe God’s restoration of a believer (see Ps. 85:4).  When used as a theological term, repentance implies not only sorrow but a complete turnaround: to change one’s mind about sin, receive God’s provision of salvation, and return wholeheartedly to him.