20 Bible Verses About Confession

Discover 20 inspiring Bible verses about confession, repentance, and forgiveness. Learn how confessing your sins brings peace, healing, and restoration in your walk with God.

BIBLE VERSES

11/9/20253 min read

a man looking through a window in a wooden building
a man looking through a window in a wooden building

20 Bible Verses About Confession

Confession is one of the most healing and humbling experiences in a believer’s journey. It is the moment when we open our hearts before God, admit our wrongs, and receive His endless mercy. The Bible reminds us time and again that confession is the key to forgiveness, peace, and restoration.

Here are 20 Bible verses about confession that teach us how to live honestly and humbly before God.

1. 1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This verse shows the heart of God’s forgiveness. Confession leads to cleansing and renewal.

2. Proverbs 28:13

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

True prosperity begins with honesty before God. Confession opens the door to mercy.

3. James 5:16

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

Confession brings not only forgiveness but also healing—emotional, spiritual, and even physical.

4. Psalm 32:5

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

Confession brings freedom. When we stop hiding, God’s forgiveness fills our hearts.

5. Romans 10:9

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Confession is also an act of faith—a public declaration of belief in Jesus Christ.

6. Psalm 38:18

“I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.”

Confession begins with a humble and repentant heart.

7. Daniel 9:4

“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ‘Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments.’”

Even Daniel confessed before God, showing that confession strengthens faith.

8. Leviticus 5:5

“When anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.”

Confession has always been part of God’s call for repentance and restoration.

9. Nehemiah 9:2

“Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.”

Confession is both personal and communal. It helps a nation and a person turn back to God.

10. Mark 1:5

“Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

Confession and repentance go hand in hand. It prepares the heart for new beginnings.

11. Psalm 51:3

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”

Acknowledging our sins brings us closer to God’s mercy and renewal.

12. Acts 19:18

“Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.”

True believers are not afraid to admit their wrongs because they know God redeems.

13. Matthew 3:6

“They confessed their sins and were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

Confession has always been a sign of repentance and spiritual renewal.

14. Ezra 10:11

“Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”

Confession is often followed by a change in direction. It calls us to live differently.

15. Luke 15:21

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

The prodigal son’s confession opened the door to forgiveness and love.

16. Psalm 66:18

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

Honest confession clears the path for God to hear our prayers.

17. Job 42:6

“Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

True confession leads to humility and repentance.

18. Luke 18:13

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”

God honors a humble heart that confesses in truth.

19. Hebrews 4:16

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Confession gives us boldness to approach God without fear.

20. Psalm 34:18

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Confession draws God near to the humble and broken heart.

Final Thoughts

Confession is not about guilt. It is about grace. It is the act of laying down our burdens and walking freely in God’s mercy. These verses remind us that when we confess, we are not condemned—we are restored.

God listens to every honest confession and replaces shame with peace. Confession is the beginning of healing, freedom, and renewal in Christ.