The Bible has a lot to say on forgiveness. In fact, it’s one of the most central themes in all of Scripture. The entire arc of humanity’s relationship to God is one of being made in God’s perfect image, falling into sin, and ultimately being redeemed — forgiven — through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. And all along, there are constant cycles of God’s people trying, failing, and being forgiven in smaller ways.
But who deserves forgiveness? What will God forgive, and what won’t he forgive? And on the other hand, who deserves our forgiveness? As it turns out, these questions are very closely linked. Here are 28 Bible verses on forgiveness (and some slightly longer passages) to help you consider these questions.
The verses below are presented in a variety of different Bible translations. You can click on each verse reference to read it in your own favorite version.
Bible Verses on Forgiving Others
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
— Luke 6:37 (NIV)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
— Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
— Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…”
— Matthew 6:14 (NRSVue)
“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
— Mark 11:25 (NLT)
“Watch yourselves! If your brother or sister sins, warn them to stop. If they change their hearts and lives, forgive them. Even if someone sins against you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I am changing my ways,’ you must forgive that person.”
— Luke 17:3–4 (CEB)
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
— Matthew 18:21–22 (KJV)
Don’t say to anyone, “I’ll get back at you for what you did to me.
I’ll make you pay for what you did!”
— Proverbs 24:29 (MSG)
The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.
— Proverbs 17:9 (NET)
“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:43-45a (CSB)
So instead [of further rebuke, now] you should rather [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage him, to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
— 2 Corinthians 2:7 (AMP)
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
— Ephesians 4:26–27 (NKJV)
Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.
— Proverbs 10:12 (GNT)
Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.
— Romans 12:17–18 (NASB)
Bible Verses on Being Forgiven
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
— 1 John 1:9 (NRSVue)
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
— Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV)
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
— Psalm 103:10–12 (ESV)
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.
— Psalm 32:1 (GNT)
They will no longer teach their friends and relatives, “Know the Lord!” Everyone, from least to greatest, shall know me—oracle of the Lord—for I will forgive their iniquity and no longer remember their sin.
— Jeremiah 31:34 (NABRE)
“I, I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins.”
— Isaiah 43:25 (NASB)
“Then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.”
— 2 Chronicles 7:14 (TLB)
As he passed in front of Moses, he called out. He said, “I am the Lord, the Lord. I am the God who is tender and kind. I am gracious. I am slow to get angry. I am faithful and full of love. I continue to show my love to thousands of people. I forgive those who do evil. I forgive those who refuse to obey me. And I forgive those who sin. But I do not let guilty people go without punishing them. I cause the sins of the parents to affect their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
— Exodus 34:6 (NIrV)
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.
— Daniel 9:9 (NIV)
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
— Luke 23:34a (GW)
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, know this: Through Jesus we proclaim forgiveness of sins to you. From all those sins from which you couldn’t be put in right relationship with God through Moses’ Law, through Jesus everyone who believes is put in right relationship with God.”
— Acts 13:38-39 (CEB)
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
— Hebrews 10:16-17 (KJV)
Bible Verses on Not Being Forgiven
“Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”
— Matthew 18:32-35 (NET)
“Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
— Matthew 12:31-32 (NRSVue)
“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
— Matthew 6:15 (NIV)
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