Repentance

From the Encyclopaedia Judaica 14:73

Repentance is a Prerequisite n: something that is necessary to end or to the carrying out of a function – prerequisite adj. for divine forgiveness: God will not pardon man unconditionally but waits for him to repent. In repentance man must experience genuine remorse for the wrong he has committed and then convert his acts. Two sub stages are discernible in the latter process: first, the negative one of ceasing to do evil (Isa. 33:15 ; Ps. 15: 24:4) and second the positive step of doing good (Isa. 1:17; 58:5 ff; Jer. 7:3; 26:13 ; Amos 5:14-15; Ps. 34:15-16; 37:27).

The Bible is rich in idioms describing man’s active role in the process of repentance e.g., “incline the heart to the Lord” ( Josh. 24:23), “Make oneself a new heart” (Ezek. 18:31), circumcise the heart”. (Jer. 4:4), “wash the heart” (Jer. 4:14), and “break one’s fallow ground” (Hos. 10:12).

However all these expressions of man’s penitential adj: of or relating to penitence or penance. activity are summarizes by one verb which dominates the Bible, (SHWB, ‘to return’) which develops ultimately into rabbinic concept of teshuvah, repentance. This root combines in itself both requisites of repentance: To turn from the evil and turn to the goodטוֹב
Transliteration:ṭôḇ Pronunciation:tobe – good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, × fair. For more info click here. The motion of turning implies that sinחָטָא
Transliteration:ḥāṭā’ Pronunciation:khaw-taw’ – A primitive root From an archery term meaning to miss the mark – For more info click here is not an ineradicable stain but a straying from the path, and that by the effort of turning; a power God has given to all men, The sinner can redirect his destiny. That this concept of turning back (to YHVH יְהֹוָה‎
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here) is not a prophetic innovation but goes back to Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: yiśrā’ēl The name Israel (Septuagint Ancient Greek: Ἰσραήλ, Israēl, “El (God) persists/rules” or “God prevails”) refers to the patriarch Jacob who, according to the Hebrew Bible, was given the name after he successfully wrestled with the Angel of the Lord. The earliest known archaeological artifact to mention the word Israel as a collective is the Merneptah Stele of ancient Egypt (dated to the late-13th century BCE) for more info click here ancient traditions is clear from Amosעָמוֹס
Transliteration:ʿāmôs – Pronunciation: aw-moce’ – proper masculine noun Meaning “burden”, a prophet of the Lord who prophesied in the northern kingdom; native of Tekoa in Judah near Bethlehem and a shepherd by trade; author of the prophetic book by his name For more info on the word click here, without bothering to explain it’s meaning (Amos 4:6-11). Neither he nor Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָהוּ‎
/aɪˈzeɪ.ə/;Yəšaʿyāhū, “Yahweh is Salvation”), also known as Isaias or Esaias, For more info click here stresses repentance, except in his earliest prophecy (1:16-18 to which the prophet adds 19 – 20 by way of interpretation and 27), not because in they believe it is insignificant, but because in their time the people had sinned to such an extent, that they had overstepped the limits of divine forbearance and the gates of repentance were closed (Amos 7; Isa. 6)

For Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָהוּ‎
/aɪˈzeɪ.ə/;Yəšaʿyāhū, “Yahweh is Salvation”), also known as Isaias or Esaias, For more info click here , the need to turn back indeed continues to play a role, but only for the few who will survive God’s Purge. This surviving remnant will itself actively engage in a program of repentance to qualify for residence in the New Zionצִיּוֹן
LXX: Σιών, also variously transliterated Sion,Tzion, Tsion, Tsiyyon Zion = “parched place” often used as a synonym for Jerusalem as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole For more info click here (e.g. Isa. 10:20-23; 17:7-8: 27:9; 29:18 ff.; 30:18-26; 31:6-7; 32:1-8, 15ff.; 33:5-6). Indeed, the name of the prophet’s firstborn was imprinted with this message: “[Only] a remnant will return” (Shear-Jashub Isa. 7:3)

In the teaching of both Hoseaהוֹשֵׁעַ‎
Transliteration: hôšēaʿ Pronunciation:ho-shay’-ah Hôwshêaʻ, ho-shay’-ah; deliverer; Hoshea, the name of five Israelites:—Hosea, Hoshea, Oshea.Hosea or Hoshea or Oshea = “salvation” For more info click here and Jeremiahיִרְמְיָהוּ
Transliteration: yirmᵊyâ – Pronunciation: yir-meh-yaw’ – proper masculine noun Meaning “whom Yahweh has appointed”or “Yah will rise”, the major prophet, son of Hilkiah of the priestly family in Anathoth; author of the prophetic book bearing his name. 2. a man of Libnah and father of Hamutal the wife of king Josiah. Also the name of seven or eight Israelites: For more info on the word click here, on the other hand, the call to turn back is never abandoned. When Jeremiahיִרְמְיָהוּ
Transliteration: yirmᵊyâ – Pronunciation: yir-meh-yaw’ – proper masculine noun Meaning “whom Yahweh has appointed”or “Yah will rise”, the major prophet, son of Hilkiah of the priestly family in Anathoth; author of the prophetic book bearing his name. 2. a man of Libnah and father of Hamutal the wife of king Josiah. Also the name of seven or eight Israelites: For more info on the word click here despairs of man’s capability of self-renewal, he postulates that God will provide a “new heart” that will overcome sinחָטָא
Transliteration:ḥāṭā’ Pronunciation:khaw-taw’ – A primitive root From an archery term meaning to miss the mark – For more info click here and merit eternal forgiveness (31:32-33; 32:39-40; cf Deut 30:6; Ezek. 36:26-27).

See also…

• Forgiveness
• Idioms for repentance