Quick Definition
μετάνοια, ας, ἡ n.f. repentance, a change of mind
Strong's Definition
from 3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication, reversal (of (another's) decision)
KJV Usage: repentance
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ας | νοέω
41.52 · Behavior and Related States · Change Behavior
to repent, to change one’s way, repentance to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness Though in English a focal component of repent is the sorrow or contrition that a person experiences because of sin, the emphasis in μετανοέω and μετάνοια seems to be more specificaly the total change, both in thought and behavior, with respect to how one should both think and act. Whether the focus is upon attitude or behavior varies somewhat in different contexts. Compare, for example, LUK 3:8, HEB 6:1, and ACT 26:20.
MAT 3:8 · MAT 3:11 · MRK 1:4 · LUK 3:3 · LUK 3:8 · LUK 5:32 · LUK 15:7 · LUK 24:47 · ACT 5:31 · ACT 11:18 · ACT 13:24 · ACT 19:4 · ACT 20:21 · ACT 26:20 · ROM 2:4 · 2CO 7:9 · 2CO 7:10 · 2TI 2:25 · HEB 6:1 · HEB 6:6 · HEB 12:17 · 2PE 3:9
1 Though it would be possible to classify μετανοέω and μετάνοια in Domain 30 Think, the focal semantic feature of these terms is clearly behavioral rather than intellectual.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μετάνοια, -olas, 9, (ueravoew), a change of mind: as it appears in one who repents of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done, Heb. xii. 17 on which see εὑρίσκω, 3 ([ Thue. 3, 36, 3]; Polyb. 4,66, 7; Plut. Peric. ce. 10; mor. p. 26a.; τῆς ἀδελφοκτονίας μετάνοια, Joseph. antt. 13, 11, 3); esp. the change of mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds, and have determined to enter upon a better course of life, so that it embraces both a recognition of sin and sorrow for it and hearty amendment, the tokens and effects of which are good deeds (Lact. 6, 24, 6 would have it rendered in Lat. by resipiscentia), [A. V. repentance]: Mt. iii. 8, 11; Lk. iii. 8, [16 Lchm.]; xv. 7; xxiv. 47; Acts xxvi. 20; βάπτισμα μετανοίας, a baptism binding its subjects to repentance [W. § 30, 28.], ΜΚ. 1. 43; Lk. iii. 3; Acts xiii. 24; xix.4; [ἡ εἰς (τὸν) θεὸν per. Acts xx. 21, see μετανοέω, fin.]; διδόναι τινὶ μετάνοιαν, to give one the ability to repent, or to cause him to repent, Acts v. 31; xi.18; 2 Tim. ii. 25; τινὰ εἰς μετάνοιαν καλεῖν, Lk. v. 32, and Ree. in Mt. ix. 13; Mk. ii. 17; ἄγειν, Ro. ii. 4 (Joseph. antt. 4, 6, 10 fin.); dvaxawifew, Heb. vi. 6; χωρῆσαι εἰς perav. to come to the point of repenting, or be brought to repentance, 2 Pet. iii. 9 [but see χωρέω, 1 fin.]; per. ἀπὸ νεκρῶν. ἔργων, that change of mind by which we turn from, desist from, ete. Heb. vi. 1 [B. 322 (277)]; used merely of the im proved spiritual state resulting from deep sorrow for sin, 2 Co. vii. 9 sq. (Sir. xliv. 16; Sap. xi. 24 (23); xii. 10,19; Or. Man. 7 sq. [(ef. Sept. ed. Tdf. Proleg. p. lxii. sq.)]; Philo, quod det. pot. insid. § 26 init.; Antonin. 8,10; [Cebes, tab. 10 fin.].)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μετάνοια metanoia 22x
a change of mode of thought and feeling, repentance, Mt. 3:8; Acts 20:21; 2 Tim. 2:25; practical reformation, Lk. 15:7; reversal of the past, Heb. 12:17
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μετάνοια, -οίας, ἡ
(< μετανοέω), [in LXX: Pr 14:15, Wi 11:23 12:10, 19, Si 44:16*;]
after-thought, change of mind, repentance: He 12:17; of repentance from sin, Mt 3:8, 11, Lk 3:8 15:7 24:47, Ac 26:20, II Co 7:9, 10; βάπτισμα (q.v.) μετανοίας, Mk 1:4, Lk 3:3, Ac 13:24 19:4; ἡ εἰς θεὸν μ., Ac 20:21; μ. ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, He 6:1; εἰς μ. καλεῖν, Lk 5:32; id. ἄγειν, Ro 2:4; ἀνακαινίζειν, He 6:6; εἰς μ. χωρῆσαι, II Pe 3:9; μ. δοῦναι, Ac 5:31 11:18, II Ti 2:25.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μετάνοια. The transition to the deeper sense of this word (see σϑῴγα) appears in Aristeas 188, where God is described as by His gentleness and long suffering—petratilels ἐκ τῆς κακίας [καὶ] εἰς μετάνοιαν ἄξεις, ‘turning men from their wickedness and leading them to amendment.” The interesting Calendar of Church Services at Oxyrhynchus, P Oxy XI. 13574 (A.D. 535-6), mentions a ἡμέρ(α) petav(olas), and we hear of a μοναστήριον μετανοίας at Alexandria in P Flor 111. 29854 (vi/A.p.): cf. P Lond 996% (vii/a.p.) (= III. p- 248), and see Sophocles Zex. s.v. The phrase ἐν petaνοίᾳ [y]evopévouvs occurs in PSI V. 45214 (iv/a.p.), and similarly in BGU III. 8365 (time of Justinian). In ZV7IV i. p. 66 ff. Wrede discusses the translation of μετάνοια in the NT (‘‘nicht Sinnesanderung, sondern Busse’’). It may be added that Lactantius (Dzv. Just. vi. 24. 6) for the ordinary faenztentia of Christian Latinity prefers veszpiscentia, as implying, like μετάνοια, a coming to one’s senses, resulting in a change of conduct.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μετάνοια (metanoia) — repentance. μετάνοια, ἡ, change of mind or heart, repentance, regret, [NT+5th c.BC+]
II. Rhet., afterthought, correction, [Refs]