...definition of "repent."..
The Greek word for "repent" is most interesting!
Matt 3v2: "And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Repent
metanoeite. A word compounded of the preposition
meta, "after, with;" and the verb
noeoo, "to perceive," and "to think," as the result of perceiving or observing. In this compound the preposition combines the two meanings of time and change, which may be denoted by after and different; so that the whole compound means to think differently after.
Metanoia ("repentance") is therefore, primarily, an after thought, different from the former thought; then, a change of mind which issues in regret and in change of conduct. These latter ideas, however, have been imported into the word by scriptural usage, and do not lie in it etymologically nor by primary usage. Repentance, then, has been rightly defined as "Such a virtuous alteration of the mind and purpose as begets a like virtuous change in the life and practice." Sorrow is not, as is popularly conceived, the primary nor the prominent notion of the word. Paul distinguishes between sorrow
lupee and repentance
metanoia, and puts the one as the outcome of the other. "Godly sorrow worketh repentance" (
2 Cor 7:10).
(from Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament)
Repent
metanoeite. Broadus used to say that this is the worst translation in the New Testament. The trouble is that the English word "repent" means "to be sorry again" from the Latin "repoenitet" (impersonal). John did not call on the people to be sorry, but to CHANGE (think afterward) their mental attitudes
metanoeite and conduct. The Vulgate has it: "do penance" and Wycliff has followed that. The Old Syriac has it better: "Turn ye." The French (Geneva) has it "Amendez vous." This is John's great word (Bruce) and it has been hopelessly mistranslated. The tragedy of it is that we have no one English word that reproduces exactly the meaning and atmosphere of the Greek word. The Greek has a word meaning to be sorry
metamelomai which is exactly our English word "repent" and it is used of Judas (
Matt 27:3). John was a new prophet with the call of the old prophets: "Turn ye" (
Joel 2:12;
Isa 55:7;
Ezek 33:11,15).
(from Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament)
Acts 2v38: "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."
Repent ye
metanoeesate. First aorist (ingressive) active imperative. "Change your mind and your life." Turn right around, and do it now....
(from Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament)