A Study of the word “forgive”
There are five words in the Old Testament that mean forgive and 3 words in the New Testament
The Old Testament Words
1. Calach- forgive, pardon
2. Callach- ready to forgive
3. Kaphar- atonement
4. Nasa- bear, take, take away
5. Celiychah- forgiveness, pardon
New Testament Word
1. Charizomai- forgive, give, freely given, used 23 times in New Testament
2. Aphiemi- leave, forgive, suffer, a word general word used a variety of ways 146 times in New Testament
3. Aphesis- remission, deliverance used 17 times.
I found it interesting that the first time the word forgive is used it is used by Joseph’s brothers. They are asking Joseph to forgive them even though he already has in his heart. They are afraid that after his father’s death that Joseph will turn on them. It is mentioned twice in Genesis 50:17.
The next time we see this word it is in Exodus 10:17, where Pharaoh asks Moses to pray to God for forgiveness after the plague of locust. Then he immediately hardens his heart after the plague stops.
The third time is in Exodus 32:32 when Moses asks God for forgive the people for making a golden calf.
In the New Testament, this word is in Matthew 6:15 where it warns us against withholding forgiveness. In fact, this is mentioned several times in the New Testament. That God expects his people to forgive it they want His forgiveness. It seems a warning to us about becoming unforgiving and bitter. See also references in Matthew 18:35, Mark 11:26 and also as a part of the Lord’s prayer in Luke 11:4.
Jesus gave us an example of forgiveness by asking God to forgive those who nailed him to the cross in Luke 23:34.
Peter asked how many times he should forgive his brother. Peter thought he was being generous by offering 7 times. Jesus told him 70 x 7. Then he tells the story about a king who forgave a man who owed him ten thousand talents. Then, that slave went out and had a man jailed who owed him 100 denarii. The result was that when the king heard about this he threw the man in prison until he was able to repay. Jesus gave us this parable as a warning to us. A simple statement by Jesus is made in Luke 17:4.
What this tells me is that because God in Jesus has forgiven us so much, he expects us to forgive others. Our debt is nothing compared to the debt we owed God. God was gracious enough to forgive, so we should be also. Ephesians 4:32 tells us to tenderheartedly forgive one another just as God in Christ has forgiven you. The word tenderhearted is euplagchnos which means compassionate and is also found in 1 Peter 3:8. We are to show compassion to one another in the face of how much God has forgiven us. It is hard to forgive others. I have people and situations in my life that are hard to get past. I need help in this area not to walk in bitterness. I know some people probably didn't even realize they were in the wrong. I know some did what they did out of anger. I'm not called to walk in anger or bitterness.
So, in order to do that, I must remember regularly the debt that I could not pay that Jesus did. And realize that God did not have to do that. This will motivate me to realize what a gift forgiveness can be. It also tells me that God doesn’t want us walking in unforgiveness or bitterness of our spirit. This saps the joy of God out of our hearts and isn’t his will for us. We should walk in forgiveness. We do that by focusing and drawing strength from God’s forgiveness for us. It isn’t something we can do in our own strength. It isn’t minimizing what others have done to us. It is being obedience to God’s word to forgive.
There are five words in the Old Testament that mean forgive and 3 words in the New Testament
The Old Testament Words
1. Calach- forgive, pardon
2. Callach- ready to forgive
3. Kaphar- atonement
4. Nasa- bear, take, take away
5. Celiychah- forgiveness, pardon
New Testament Word
1. Charizomai- forgive, give, freely given, used 23 times in New Testament
2. Aphiemi- leave, forgive, suffer, a word general word used a variety of ways 146 times in New Testament
3. Aphesis- remission, deliverance used 17 times.
I found it interesting that the first time the word forgive is used it is used by Joseph’s brothers. They are asking Joseph to forgive them even though he already has in his heart. They are afraid that after his father’s death that Joseph will turn on them. It is mentioned twice in Genesis 50:17.
The next time we see this word it is in Exodus 10:17, where Pharaoh asks Moses to pray to God for forgiveness after the plague of locust. Then he immediately hardens his heart after the plague stops.
The third time is in Exodus 32:32 when Moses asks God for forgive the people for making a golden calf.
In the New Testament, this word is in Matthew 6:15 where it warns us against withholding forgiveness. In fact, this is mentioned several times in the New Testament. That God expects his people to forgive it they want His forgiveness. It seems a warning to us about becoming unforgiving and bitter. See also references in Matthew 18:35, Mark 11:26 and also as a part of the Lord’s prayer in Luke 11:4.
Jesus gave us an example of forgiveness by asking God to forgive those who nailed him to the cross in Luke 23:34.
Peter asked how many times he should forgive his brother. Peter thought he was being generous by offering 7 times. Jesus told him 70 x 7. Then he tells the story about a king who forgave a man who owed him ten thousand talents. Then, that slave went out and had a man jailed who owed him 100 denarii. The result was that when the king heard about this he threw the man in prison until he was able to repay. Jesus gave us this parable as a warning to us. A simple statement by Jesus is made in Luke 17:4.
What this tells me is that because God in Jesus has forgiven us so much, he expects us to forgive others. Our debt is nothing compared to the debt we owed God. God was gracious enough to forgive, so we should be also. Ephesians 4:32 tells us to tenderheartedly forgive one another just as God in Christ has forgiven you. The word tenderhearted is euplagchnos which means compassionate and is also found in 1 Peter 3:8. We are to show compassion to one another in the face of how much God has forgiven us. It is hard to forgive others. I have people and situations in my life that are hard to get past. I need help in this area not to walk in bitterness. I know some people probably didn't even realize they were in the wrong. I know some did what they did out of anger. I'm not called to walk in anger or bitterness.
So, in order to do that, I must remember regularly the debt that I could not pay that Jesus did. And realize that God did not have to do that. This will motivate me to realize what a gift forgiveness can be. It also tells me that God doesn’t want us walking in unforgiveness or bitterness of our spirit. This saps the joy of God out of our hearts and isn’t his will for us. We should walk in forgiveness. We do that by focusing and drawing strength from God’s forgiveness for us. It isn’t something we can do in our own strength. It isn’t minimizing what others have done to us. It is being obedience to God’s word to forgive.
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