No — the Bible does not use that exact English phrase.
You will not find a verse that literally says:
However — and this is crucial — the Bible repeatedly commands:
– Repent
– Turn from sin / wicked ways
– Confess and renounce sin
– Return to God
These are functionally identical to “repent from sin,” even if the exact wording differs.
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Where the Bible explicitly teaches turning away from sin
1. “Turn from their wicked ways” — 2 Chronicles 7:14
> “…turn from their wicked ways…”
This is the Old Testament’s clearest “repent from sin” equivalent.
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2. “Repent… that your sins may be wiped out” — Acts 3:19
> “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out…”
Repentance is directly connected to sin being removed.
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3. “Confess… and renounce them” — Proverbs 28:13
> “…the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Renouncing sin = turning from sin.
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4. “Confess our sins… purify us from all unrighteousness” — 1 John 1:9
> “If we confess our sins… he will forgive… and purify us…”
Confession + purification = repentance from sin.
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What the Bible does say instead of “repent from sin”
The biblical language is:
| Biblical Phrase | Meaning |
|—————–|———-|
| Repent | Change mind/turn direction |
| Turn from wicked ways | Stop sinning |
| Renounce sin | Reject sin |
| Return to God | Restore relationship |
| Bear fruits worthy of repentance | Show changed behavior |
The concept is everywhere — the exact phrase is not.
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Why the exact phrase doesn’t appear
Because:
– “Repent” (Greek: metanoeō) already means to turn away from sin and toward God.
– Hebrew and Greek express the idea through actions (“turn,” “return,” “forsake”), not the English phrase “repent from sin.”
So the Bible teaches the doctrine clearly — just not in that exact English wording.
