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Bible Verses About Forgiveness

Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel — received from God, then extended to others. These verses speak to both: being forgiven, and learning to let go.

Bible verses about forgiveness, gathered from the King James Version (KJV) to read slowly, pray over, and return to.

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

    Ephesians 4:32

  2. 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

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

    Matthew 6:14

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

    Matthew 6:15

  5. 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

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

    Psalms 103:12

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

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

    Matthew 18:22

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

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

    Daniel 9:9

  15. 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

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

    Psalms 86:5

  17. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

    2 Chronicles 7:14

More on Bible Verses About Forgiveness

Forgiveness in the Bible flows in two directions, and the verses here hold both. First it is received: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9), removing them “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). Then it is given away: “forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Jesus ties the two together closely. In Matthew 6:14-15 he links our forgiving others to our own experience of being forgiven, and when Peter asks how often he must forgive, the answer — “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22) — means essentially without limit.

These passages don’t pretend forgiveness is easy or that wrongs don’t matter. They point instead to a God who is “ready to forgive” (Psalm 86:5) and who frees us to release what we’re holding against others.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about forgiveness?

The Bible presents forgiveness as both received and given. 1 John 1:9 promises God forgives confessed sin, Psalm 103:12 says he removes it completely, and Ephesians 4:32 calls us to forgive others as God forgave us in Christ.

How many times should we forgive according to the Bible?

In Matthew 18:21-22 Peter asks if seven times is enough, and Jesus answers “Until seventy times seven” — a number meant to convey forgiveness without keeping count, rather than a literal limit of 490.

Does God forgive all sins?

Scripture speaks of God’s readiness to forgive any sin that is confessed and turned from. Isaiah 1:18 says though sins be “as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,” and 1 John 1:9 promises he is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins.”

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