Scripture frequently speaks of God “repenting” or “relenting,” yet this language must be understood in light of God’s immutable nature. Before the Flood (Genesis 6:6–7), God is described as regretting that He made humanity and being grieved in His heart. This does not suggest error, emotional instability, or a change in God’s eternal purpose, since Scripture affirms that God does not repent as humans do (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29) and does not change in His essence (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). Rather, such language is anthropopathic—spoken in human terms—to express God’s righteous displeasure against sin. The change lies in humanity, not in God: when humans were upright, God rested; when they apostatized, His holy justice was manifested.
A similar principle appears after Israel’s golden calf apostasy (Exodus 32:14). God “relented” from threatened judgment following Moses’ intercession. This does not indicate a reversal of God’s eternal counsel, but a shift in His dealings in response to changed human circumstances—repentance and intercession. As Jeremiah 26:3 shows, divine threats are often conditional, intended to call sinners to repentance.
Texts such as Jeremiah 18:8, Joel 2:13–14, and Jonah 3:10 reinforce this pattern. Human repentance involves a true change of heart, whereas divine “repentance” signifies a change in action, not in purpose. God’s counsels remain fixed, but His providential actions vary consistently with His holiness, justice, and mercy. Thus, God’s immutability is preserved: He never abandons His decrees, yet He faithfully adjusts His dealings in accordance with them.