Bible verses about forgiveness

The Bible teaches that God forgives completely and calls people to forgive others in the same way, tying the two together.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”Ephesians 4:32 · KJV
Verses
15
Key passage
Ephesians 4:32
Translation
King James
Updated
2026-10-27

Forgiveness runs in two directions in scripture: being forgiven and forgiving. The verses here cover God’s removal of sin, the instruction to forgive others without keeping count, and the link Jesus draws between the two. Forgiving does not require pretending that harm did not happen.

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15 verses about forgiveness

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

Ephesians 4:32 · KJV
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“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 · KJV
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“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 6:14-15 · KJV
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“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 · KJV
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“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 · KJV
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“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:12 · KJV
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“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 · KJV
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“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
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“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 · KJV
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“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 · KJV
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“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. 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 7:18-19 · KJV
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“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

Psalm 86:5 · KJV
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“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 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 17:3-4 · KJV
14

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

Proverbs 17:9 · KJV
15

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

Hebrews 8:12 · KJV
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Questions

What does the Bible say about forgiveness?

The Bible teaches that God forgives completely and calls people to forgive others in the same way, tying the two together. A good place to start is Ephesians 4:32.

Where does the Bible talk most about forgiveness?

Key passages include Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 6:14-15. This page lists 15 verses from the Old and New Testaments.

Which Bible translation is used?

The King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain in the United States. Other translations use different wording for the same passages.

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Related topics

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain in the U.S.). Verses were selected by hand. Last reviewed 2026-10-27. See how topics are chosen.