Dictionary of Bible Themes » 6000 Sin and salvation » 6600 Aspects of salvation » 6624 confession, of sin
An admission of sin on the part of individuals or groups of people. Genuine repentance and confession herald divine forgiveness.
Confession of sin leads to divine forgiveness
Under the old covenant
Proverbs 28:13 See also Leviticus 16:21 Part of the ritual of the Day of Atonement involved the high priest confessing the sins of the nation, while laying his hands on the head of a sacrificial goat; Leviticus 26:40-42; 1 Kings 8:33-36 pp 2 Chronicles 6:24-27; 1 Kings 8:46-52 pp 2 Chronicles 6:36-39; Psalm 32:3-5
Under the new covenant
1 John 1:8-10 See also James 5:13-16
Confession of sin accompanied by acts appropriate to repentance
Numbers 5:5-8 See also Leviticus 5:5-6; Ezra 10:10-11; Nehemiah 9:1-3; Luke 19:8; Acts 19:18-19
Examples of confession of sin
On behalf of the nation
Nehemiah 1:5-7 See also Ezra 9:5-15; Isaiah 59:12-13; Isaiah 64:6-7; Jeremiah 14:7,20; Daniel 9:4-14
By the people as a whole
1 Samuel 7:5-6 See also Ezra 9:4-7,10-15; Nehemiah 9:33-35; Psalm 106:6; Jeremiah 3:24-25
By individuals
Psalm 51:1-5 See also 2 Samuel 24:10 pp 1 Chronicles 21:10; 2 Samuel 24:17 pp 1 Chronicles 21:17; Job 7:20; Job 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:5
Confession of sin to other people
Joshua 7:20-21 See also Luke 15:17-24; James 5:16
See also
6020 sin 6652 forgiveness 6732 repentance 7903 baptism 8407 confession of Christ 8607 prayer, God's promises 8625 worship, acceptable attitudes
