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To have remorse [metamelomai] is simular to both Greek and English to repenting. It is good only
five times in the New Testament, once for God ( Hebrew 7:21) (For those priests were made without an oath;
but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec:) In an Old Testament quotation. The NKJV "relent" is an improvement over the
KJV "repent" since God onl appears to change, it is really His invariable action to our change of mind.
Jesus used this verb twice in his Proverbs to two sons. The son who said he would not work in his father's
vineyard later changed his mind and "repented [metamelomai], and went" (Matthew 21:29 He answered and said, I will
not: but afterward he repented, and went.). Jesus applied this to the chief priests and elders for not relenting
(NKJV) and believing when they saw tax collectors and harlots accepting the Baptist's message._ Judas is a clear
example of the difference between repentance and remorse: "Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that
he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou
to that." (Matthew 27:3, 4). Judas was sorry for his mistake, but he did not repent and seek forgiveness.
Paul uses both concepts: "For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow
of the wor worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7:10). No one who truly repents will ever regret it.
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