Greek word · G279
ἀμετανόητος
ametanoētos
unrepentant
Active sense: not repenting, unwilling to change one's mind or course. In legal papyri it also has a passive sense: not to be changed, irrevocable (for example, an unalterable deed or decision).
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ἀμετανόητος, -ον
(μετανοέω)
1. impenitent: Romans 2:5
2. = ἀμεταμέλητος (π., Philo, al.; see Deiss., BS, 257; MM, VGT, see word).†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
Active sense: not repenting, unwilling to change one's mind or course. In legal papyri it also has a passive sense: not to be changed, irrevocable (for example, an unalterable deed or decision).
- Against the English
'Impenitent' (KJV, ESV) and 'unrepentant' (BSB, WEB, NASB) are both accurate. NLT's paraphrase 'refuse to turn from your sin' brings out the idea of changing direction well.
- How it drifted
Modern 'repent' often suggests feeling sorry or remorseful. The Greek metanoia word group means a change of mind and direction. In the Old Testament background (Hebrew shuv, 'turn back') it means returning to God.
- Used elsewhere in the period
The word is not found elsewhere in the New Testament. Its positive counterpart metanoia appears in v. 4 and is common in the Greek Old Testament wisdom books and in Jewish writings such as the Wisdom of Solomon (11:23; 12:10, 19), where God's patience gives space for repentance.
Where it appears
Romans · 1
-
Romans 2:5 ἀμετανόητον unrepentant
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Here: Another word found only here in the New Testament. It is formed by negating the 'repentance' (metanoia) of v. 4. God's kindness leads toward a change of mind, and this heart refuses to change.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.