Bible Verse Picker

Bible Verses About Forgiveness

A random verse drawn from 27 passages chosen for this topic.

And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Nehemiah 9:17KJV

Drawing from 27 verses

Forgiveness runs through the whole Bible in two directions. There is God's forgiveness toward us, described in places like Psalms 103:12 and 1 John 1:9 as complete and freely given. And there is the forgiveness we extend to each other, which Jesus ties directly to the mercy we have received.

Jesus talked about forgiveness constantly. He built it into the Lord's Prayer, answered Peter's question about how many times to forgive in Matthew 18:22, and prayed for the soldiers executing him in Luke 23:34. The New Testament letters carry the same thread, especially Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13.

The Bible treats forgiveness as a decision, not a feeling that shows up on its own. It also never asks you to pretend an offense didn't happen or to stay in harm's way. Forgiving someone and rebuilding trust with them are two separate things, and Scripture leaves room for both mercy and wisdom.

People come to these verses from very different places. Some carry guilt over something they did and need to know God will actually forgive it. Some are trying to forgive a parent, an ex, a friend, or a church. Some have been stuck for years on something they can't release, including forgiving themselves.

The tool above shows a random verse from the forgiveness collection. Keep clicking until one meets you where you are, then slow down with it. Read the surrounding chapter, since forgiveness passages usually sit inside a bigger story. If a verse names the thing you've been avoiding, that's probably the one to pray about.

A practical way to use this page: pick one verse about receiving forgiveness and one about extending it. Most of us need both on the same day.

These verses won't make a hard conversation easy, and they don't rush anyone's process. But they settle the two questions people bring here most often: can God forgive what I did, and is it possible to let go of what was done to me. Scripture answers yes to the first without hesitation, and it walks patiently with you on the second.

All 27 verses about forgiveness, in the King James Version

  1. And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

    Nehemiah 9:17

  2. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

    Psalms 32:5

  3. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

    Psalms 86:5

  4. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

    Psalms 103:12

  5. But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

    Psalms 130:4

  6. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

    Proverbs 17:9

  7. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

    Proverbs 28:13

  8. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

    Isaiah 1:18

  9. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

    Isaiah 43:25

  10. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

    Daniel 9:9

  11. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

    Micah 7:18

  12. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

    Micah 7:19

  13. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

    Matthew 6:14

  14. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

    Matthew 6:15

  15. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

    Matthew 18:21

  16. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

    Matthew 18:22

  17. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

    Mark 11:25

  18. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

    Luke 6:37

  19. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

    Luke 17:4

  20. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

    Luke 23:34

  21. 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;

    Acts 3:19

  22. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

    Acts 10:43

  23. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

    Ephesians 1:7

  24. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

    Ephesians 4:32

  25. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

    Colossians 3:13

  26. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

    Hebrews 8:12

  27. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    1 John 1:9

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to forgive someone who isn't sorry?
Jesus modeled forgiving people who never apologized, praying for his executioners in Luke 23:34, and Mark 11:25 ties our forgiving to our praying without mentioning the other person's response. So yes, Scripture calls you to release the debt even without an apology, and that releases you as much as them. Reconciliation is different, and it usually does require the other person's honesty and change.
Will God really forgive what I did?
Yes. 1 John 1:9 makes forgiveness a promise attached to honest confession, not a maybe. Psalms 103:12 and Isaiah 43:25 describe God removing sin completely rather than filing it away for later. If guilt keeps circling back, that's your memory talking, not God's. Confess it once sincerely, receive the promise, and treat returning shame as a settled case.
Does forgiving someone mean I have to trust them again?
No. Forgiveness cancels the debt, while trust is rebuilt through changed behavior over time. Scripture tells you to forgive as God forgave you in Ephesians 4:32, but it also praises wisdom and caution throughout Proverbs. You can fully forgive someone and still keep healthy boundaries, especially where safety is involved. Forgiving is your part. Rebuilding trust takes both people.