Part 3 - Bible Verses on Forgiveness

(Showing How it is Normally Understood)

If you haven't yet read it, go back to part 2 (of 6).

Please continue reading this study on Biblical Forgiveness ... but, if you are in a hurry, here is a quick summary. (Opens in new window.) When you see the importance of it, you may want to return later to read the full study or add your own comments/questions or see what others have written. (Opens in new window.)

First, we will consider forgiveness as it applies to the forgivee, the one who is forgiven. The first word we want to look at is the Hebrew word "nasaw" (Strong's number 05375). It is used in the sense of to bear as in a load; to lift up; to take away. Here is the usage and shades of meaning as given by the Online Bible (www.onlinebible.net)

Heb - Nasaw 05375 AV-(bare, lift, etc...) up 219, bear 115, take 58, bare 34, carry 30, (take, carry)..away 22, borne 22, armourbearer 18, forgive 16, accept 12, exalt 8, regard 5, obtained 4, respect 3, misc 74; 654
* to lift, bear up, carry, take
* to lift, lift up,
* to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure
* to take, take away, carry off, forgive
* to cause one to bear (iniquity)
* to cause to bring, have brought

"Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin." (Psa 85:2)

"And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear <5375> his iniquity." (Lev 5:17)

"Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins." (Psa 25:18)

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven , whose sin is covered." (Psa 32:1)

Heb - Calach 05545 AV-forgive 19, forgiven 13, pardon 13, spare 1; 46
Meaning:
to forgive, pardon
to be forgiven

"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases" (Psa 103:3)

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." <5545> (Isa 55:7)

"It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive <5545> their iniquity and their sin." (Jer 36:3)

"We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. <5545>" (Lam 3:42)

In this case, since they have transgressed or sinned and have rebelled rather than repented, God has not pardoned. These two words, nasaw and calach, both have the meaning of to take something away. When you receive forgiveness, what is taken away from you? - guilt, shame, debt. Can you see that these words are describing what is happening on the side of the forgivee?

GK - aphiemi 863 (to send, to go) AV-leave 52, forgive 47, suffer 14, let 8, forsake 6, let alone 6, misc 13; 146
Meaning:
* to send away [the guilt]
* to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person * to leave, go way from one

"And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven <863> thee." (Matt 9:2)

Who is the change taking place in, in this case? Is it a change in God or in the sick man? What would be taken away from this man? Remember it is the word aphiemi - shame, guilt etc.

"And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go <630>;" (Luke 14:4)

These two Hebrew and two Greek words are all referring to the work God accomplishes in the heart or mind of the believer through the merits of the death of Jesus. This forgiveness deals with the "canceling out" of sins consequences. The Bible verses on forgiveness that we have looked at in this part have described forgiveness from the viewpoint of the forgivee, the one who is forgiven. In the next part, we will examine further Bible verses on forgiveness where we will consider the viewpoint of the forgiver.