"a change of mode of thought and feeling, repentance, Mt. 3:8; Acts 20:21; 2 Tim. 2:25; practical reformation, Lk. 15:7; reversal of the past, Heb. 12:17"
Definition and meaning
a change of mode of thought and feeling, repentance, Mt. 3:8; Acts 20:21; 2 Tim. 2:25; practical reformation, Lk. 15:7; reversal of the past, Heb. 12:17
In the original Greek the word is written: μετάνοια
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of metanoia (G3341) across the King James Bible.
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
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Common questions
Strong's G3341 (metanoia) is a Greek word that means: a change of mode of thought and feeling, repentance, Mt. 3:8; Acts 20:21; 2 Tim. 2:25; practical reformation, Lk. 15:7; reversal of the past, Heb. 12:17 It appears 24 times in the King James Bible.
The word metanoia (G3341) appears 24 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3341 is metanoia, a Greek word defined as: a change of mode of thought and feeling, repentance, Mt. 3:8; Acts 20:21; 2 Tim. 2:25; practical reformation, Lk. 15:7; reversal of the past, Heb. 12:. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
metanoia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.