A curated set of Bible verses on forgiveness, organized for quick reference. Each verse is in the King James Version and linked to BibleGateway for the surrounding context. For the longer treatment, see our full article on what the Bible says about forgiveness.
How God forgives us
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12 KJV
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” — Psalm 86:5 KJV
“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” — Isaiah 43:25 KJV
“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
“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
“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
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” — Ephesians 1:7 KJV
Jesus on forgiving
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” — Matthew 6:12 KJV
“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
“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
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34 KJV
“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
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” — Luke 6:27–28 KJV
Paul on forgiving one another
“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
“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
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” — Romans 12:17–18 KJV
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” — Romans 12:19 KJV
“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:20–21 KJV
Old Testament foundations
“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” — Exodus 34:6–7 KJV
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” — Psalm 32:1–2 KJV
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” — Psalm 51:1–2 KJV
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 KJV
“And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” — Matthew 21:44 KJV
A short word
The pattern across these verses is unmistakable. God’s forgiveness of us is the engine and the model of our forgiveness of one another. We forgive as He has forgiven us — fully, freely, costly. The Christian who has absorbed the size of the gift cannot be stingy with it.
For the longer pastoral walk — what biblical forgiveness is and is not, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and a concrete pattern for beginning to forgive a real wound — see our full article on what the Bible says about forgiveness. And for hearing these verses in their historical, literary, and theological context, The Context Bible opens up five lenses on every verse. Open it in your browser or download free.
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” — Matthew 6:14 KJV
