forgive, forgiven, forgiveness, pardon, pardoned

Definition

To forgive someone means to not hold a grudge against that person even though they did something hurtful. “Forgiveness” is the act of forgiving someone.

• Forgiving someone often means not punishing that person for something he has done wrong.
• This term can be used figuratively to mean “cancel,” as in the expression “forgive a debt.”
• When people confess their sins, God forgives them based on Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.
• Jesus taught his disciples to forgive others as he has forgiven them.

The term “pardon” means to forgive and not punish someone for his sin.

• This word has the same meaning as “forgive” but may also include the meaning of a formal decision to not punish someone who is guilty.
• In a court of law, a judge can pardon a person found guilty of a crime.
• Even though we are guilty of sin, Jesus Christ pardoned us from being punished in hell, based on his sacrificial death on the cross.

Translation Suggestions

• Depending on the context, “forgive” could be translated as “pardon” or “cancel” or “release” or “not hold against” (someone).
• The term “forgiveness” could be translated by a word or phrase that means “practice of not resenting” or “declaring (someone) as not guilty” or “the act of pardoning.”
• If the language has a word for a formal decision to forgive, that word could be used to translate “pardon.”

(See also: guilt)

Bible References

• Genesis 50:17
• Numbers 14:17-19
• Deuteronomy 29:20-21
• Joshua 24:19-20
• 2 Kings 5:17-19
• Psalms 25:11
• Psalms 25:17-19
• Isaiah 55:6-7
• Isaiah 40:2
• Luke 5:21
• Acts 8:22
• Ephesians 4:31-32
• Colossians 3:12-14
• 1 John 2:12

Examples from the Bible stories

• __7:10 But Esau had already forgiven__ Jacob, and they were happy to see each other again.
• __13:15 Then Moses climbed the mountain again and prayed that God would forgive the people. God listened to Moses and forgave__ them.
• __17:13 David repented of his sin and God forgave__ him.
• __21:5 In the New Covenant, God would write his law on the people’s hearts, the people would know God personally, they would be his people, and God would forgive__ their sins.
• __29:1 One day Peter asked Jesus, “Master, how many times should I forgive__ my brother when he sins against me?”
• __29:8 I forgave__ your debt because you begged me.
• __38:5 Then Jesus took a cup and said, “Drink this. It is my blood of the New Covenant that is poured out for the forgiveness__ of sins.”

Word Data

• Strong’s: H5546, H5547, H3722, H5375, H5545, H5547, H7521, G85900, G86300, G54830