Please note that all Biblical quotes are presented from the Literal Translation.
This week we are taking the third and final word in our study of repentance, as found in the New Testament, μεταμὲλομαι (Strong's #3338), which means, "to regret, to be sorry."
In previous weeks, our study focused on the words Μετανοὲω (Strong's #3340) meaning to make a decision for change, and its noun form μετὰνοια (Strong's #3341) that expresses a decision to change the direction of one's life. In addition, last week we studied ἐπιστρὲφω (Strong's #1994), which means, "to turn toward," or "be converted." When μετανοὲω and ἐπιστρὲφω are used together, μετανοὲω means, "to make a decision to turn from sin," and ἐπιστρὲφω means, "to turn toward or upon the Lord." These words taken together, as they represent the New Testament concept of repentance, have given us the understanding that a decision for change is the surrendering of one's life to Christ for Him to effect spiritual change, and that for a person to express and experience true repentance, he must make a decision both to turn from his life of sin and to turn to the living God.
Μεταμὲλομαι, the focus of our study today, is a compound word made from the preposition μετὰ (Strong's #3326) which means "a change in location or circumstance," when used in a compound word, and μὲλω (Strong's #3199) meaning, "to care, to be concerned for." In Classical Greek, μεταμὲλομαι means both to feel sorrow and to change one's mind. In the Old Testament Septuagint, its usage means "to regret," or to express "sorrow."
While the main word used in the New Testament to express true repentance is μετανοὲω, μεταμὲλομαι is also translated "repent" in some English versions; but, when used alone, this word does not express a decision to change the direction of one's life. Instead, the meaning of μεταμὲλομαι is dependant on the action words associated with it in the text. The action word (or verb) dictates whether the expression of regret is toward repentance or away from repentance. This can be understood from the following New Testament examples.
In Matthew 27:3-5, μεταμὲλομαι is used in reference to Judas and the decisions he makes after betraying the Lord:
"Then when Judas, the one delivering Him over, saw that he was condemned, having regretted (the aorist passive participle of μεταμὲλομαι), he returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, saying, 'I sinned having delivered over innocent blood.' And they said, 'What is it to us? You yourself will see to it.' And after having thrown down the silver coins in the temple, he withdrew, and after having gone away he hanged himself."
In this text, Judas expresses sorrow over the consequences of his sin ("having delivered up innocent blood"), but does not express repentance, a decision to change the direction of his life; instead, he decides to end his life.
In Hebrews 7:20-21, μεταμὲλομαι is used in reference to God's appointment of Jesus Christ as high priest and shows that He does not regret making that appointment, even quoting Psalm 110:4 to affirm His commitment:
"And according as how much not apart from swearing of an oath, for the ones indeed are become priests without swearing of an oath, but He with a swearing of an oath, through the One saying to Him, 'The Lord swore and will not regret (μεταμὲλομαι), You Yourself are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.'"
Matthew 21:28-32 shows μεταμὲλομαι used in conjunction with other words to express regret over decisions made.
"And what do you think? A man was having two children, and when he came to the first he said, 'Child, go today, work in my vineyard.' And when he answered he said, 'I will not'; but afterwards after having regretted (the aorist passive participle of μεταμὲλομαι) he went. And when he came to the second he said likewise. And when he answered he said, 'I will, sir,' and he did not go. Which from out of the two did the will of the father? They say to him, 'The first.' Jesus says to them, 'Of a truth I say to you, that the tax collectors and the harlots are going before you into the kingdom of God. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; but after having seen it, you yourselves afterwards did not regret (μεταμὲλομαι) so that you might believeF1 him.'"
In this text, the phrase οὐκ͂ἀπῆλθεν (the negative particle οὐκ, Strong's #3756, "not" and the aorist active indicative of ἀπὲρξομαι, Strong's #565, "to go away, to depart") dictates the translation and interpretation. The first son said he would not go, but then regretted that decision and went. The second son said he would go, but then did not. Jesus, in His application of this parable to the chief priests and elders, says that after having seen the belief of the tax collectors and harlots, the Jewish leaders did not regret "so that they might believe him." Jesus is saying here that the chief priests and elders did not regret their decision to disbelieve John's message.
In summary, the New Testament teaches that true repentance is the making of a decision to surrender one's life to Jesus Christ for change. It also teaches that a person who regrets or is sorry for his sin can have the same outward appearance as a truly repentant person has. However, in contrast to a truly repentant person, such a one continues in his sin after the emotional effects of his sin have passed. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the condition of a person's heart, not by his emotional response to the consequences of sin that are facing him, but by the fruit of repentance he exhibits - that is, his decision to turn away from his sin and to turn to Jesus Christ for the Holy Spirit to save and change him.
* METAMELOMAI is the English font spelling of the Greek word μεταμὲλομαι.
Technical Notes:
F1: The articular infinitive τοῦ͂πιστεῦσαι, "the to believe," is translated by ὥστε͂νὰ͂πιστεὺσητε, "so that you might believe."
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.