Repentance as "Re-Turning"

A lot has already been written by Biblical Hebrew commentators about the distinctions between the two main verbs that were translated as "to repent" in English, so I’ll only give a brief overview of this topic before moving on to illustrate the links between the Bible and other LDS scriptures on the Hebraic concept of repentance.

When “to repent” is used in the O.T. in the sense of God’s feelings toward His children's acts of disobedience, especially habitual sin, the verb leh-hee-nah-KHEM לְהִנָחֵם is used. The verbs in English that most accurately describe לְהִנָחֵם are “to regret, to pity, to grieve, to have compassion (on).” The following verse provides a perfect example: 

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Genesis 6:5,6) 

But the Biblical Hebrew verb that best expresses the idea of repentance as used in modern English is lah-SHOOV לָשׁוּב, which literally means to turn back, to return, or to turn again towards, with a huge emphasis on the “again” element of the verb. In fact, the root of the verb, shoov שׁוּב, is an adverb that means “again”.

Here are several O.T. examples. The first verse demonstrates beautifully the link between repentance and (re)turning towards the Lord.

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” (Ezekiel 18:30)

“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.” (Isaiah 55:7)

“Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts…” (Malachi 3:7)

“For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.” (2 Chronicles 30:9)

In addition, Book of Mormon prophets were very familiar with the metaphor and imagery that linked repentance with (re)turning towards God. Note the following examples:

 “But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not.” (Helaman 13:11)

“But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel. But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel.” (3 Nephi 16:13, 15)

Even the Savior Himself uses the Hebrew language meaning of "to turn" at times. (See 3 Nephi 30:2.) The Lord's statements here are synonymous, just as the two verbs are in this context.

"Turn all ye Gentiles from your wicked ways; and repent of you evil doings."

To finish off, a few personal thoughts in this subject.

That the Old Testament and Book of Mormon prophets regularly used the verb “to return (again)” to convey the concept of repentance carries an implied lesson: God knew and expected that due to our fallen nature we would often decide to turn away from Him throughout our lives and then find the spiritual need to "re-turn" towards Him. Ideally that returning will happen on an hourly basis throughout the day anytime we notice our focus shifting away from our Father and the Savior. One of my favorite analogies is that while driving, in order to safely reach our various destinations each day, we literally make dozens of small course corrections each minute using the steering wheel. 

The ultimate goal of repentance is returning to our previous relational state with our Father, which includes reunion with God in His presence. All things point towards repentance leading to a final return to our face-to-face relationship with Him that we enjoyed before we came to Earth, an idea that’s captured in several of these verses. (See 2 Chronicles 30:9 above.) As we sincerely repent as often as needed, metaphorically turning our face (gaze) towards His, the Lord promises that we'll again see Him as He is, and know Him personally once again. 

“And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:38)