28 Bible Verses About Forgiveness (NIV & KJV)

Forgiveness lies at the very heart of the gospel. Scripture shows a God who is rich in mercy, eager to pardon, and who calls His people to extend that same grace to one another. To be forgiven and to forgive is one of the most freeing experiences a soul can know.

These Bible verses about forgiveness draw together promises of God's mercy, commands to release others from offense, and the peace that follows when bitterness is laid down. Whether you long to be forgiven or are struggling to forgive, these passages point the way.

Each verse below comes in both the NIV and KJV. Read them prayerfully, and let the truth of God's pardon soften your heart toward Him and toward those who have wronged you.

🙏 God's Promise to Forgive

The Lord is faithful to pardon all who come to Him in repentance.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”— 1 John 1:9 (NIV)“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)

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”— Psalm 103:12 (NIV)“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”— Psalm 103:12 (KJV)

““I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”— Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)“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, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”— Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)“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)

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.””— Hebrews 8:12 (NIV)“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”— Hebrews 8:12 (KJV)

💧 Mercy and Compassion

God's forgiveness flows from His abundant mercy.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”— Psalm 103:8 (NIV)“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”— Psalm 103:8 (KJV)

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”— Micah 7:18 (NIV)“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”— Micah 7:18 (KJV)

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”— Psalm 86:5 (NIV)“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”— Psalm 86:5 (KJV)

“he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”— Psalm 103:10 (NIV)“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.”— Psalm 103:10 (KJV)

🤲 Forgiving One Another

We are called to forgive as freely as we have been forgiven.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”— Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)“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)

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”— Colossians 3:13 (NIV)“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)

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”— Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)“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)

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.””— Mark 11:25 (NIV)“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)

⚖️ Forgiveness and Our Own Pardon

Jesus teaches that mercy received and mercy given are linked.

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”— Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)“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)

““Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”— Luke 6:37 (NIV)“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”— Luke 6:37 (KJV)

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”— Matthew 6:12 (NIV)“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”— Matthew 6:12 (KJV)

✝️ Forgiveness Through Christ

Our pardon is purchased by the blood of Jesus.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”— Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”— Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”— Luke 23:34 (NIV)“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”— Luke 23:34 (KJV)

“and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”— Luke 24:47 (NIV)“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”— Luke 24:47 (KJV)

““Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”— Acts 13:38 (NIV)“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”— Acts 13:38 (KJV)

🌿 Letting Go of Bitterness

Forgiveness frees the heart from anger and resentment.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”— Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”— Ephesians 4:31 (KJV)

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”— Romans 12:17 (NIV)“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”— Romans 12:17 (KJV)

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”— Romans 12:19 (NIV)“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)

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (KJV)

“Psalm 32 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”— Psalm 32:1 (NIV)“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”— Psalm 32:1 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness?

The Bible reveals a God who is "ready to forgive" and "plenteous in mercy" to all who call upon Him. Through the blood of Christ we receive "the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace," and Scripture promises that if we confess our sins, God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness and remember them no more. No sin lies beyond His pardon when met with sincere repentance.

At the same time, the Bible insists that those who have been forgiven must forgive others. Jesus taught His disciples to forgive "seventy times seven" and warned that withholding forgiveness blocks our own. Far from a heavy burden, forgiveness is shown as a path to freedom, releasing the heart from bitterness and reflecting the very mercy of God.

Forgiveness is where grace meets the human heart. Continue with Bible verses about mercy, Bible verses about grace, and Bible verses about forgiving others.