Summary of Scripture Words.
Repentance.

Repentance.

The word "repent" is the translation of a Greek verb metanoeó with the meaning "to have another mind" or "to change the mind", it is used in the New Testament to indicate that the person has changed their mind in connection with God or themselves. This change of mind, in the case of Christians who have fallen into the act of sin, is to be starting with sadness and sorrow,
2 Corinthians 7:6-11

"6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea,"

But this is still not true repentance, for example the son in Matthew 21:28-29.

"28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you."

He has demonstrated real repentance. Repentance is not an action which is separated from faith, but it is a saving faith, which includes and implies the "change of Mind", the repentance.

The words "repent" and "repentance" are rarely found in the Old Testament and when they do appear they are normally most frequently to God.
The word used most frequently indicates the human dependence on turning back to God from a sinful life, this actually needs a turning back to God with a turning of the heart,
For example 2 Kings 17:13

"13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets."

God is completely perfect in His behaviour, being, perfections and purposes, but his attitude towards judgement and wrath moving towards favour and blessing in mercy are very obvious.

In the New Testament the term normally is referring towards "a change of mind", this is very important as it signify's a very obvious "a change of mind"
For example Acts 3:19

"19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; "

This action is a revolution which is determined by the human personality and is a reflection of the changes given by the Holy Spirit in the regeneration.