Exodus 32:14

And Jehovah repented, &c. so Genesis 6:7, Jdg 2:18, 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 15:35; 2 Samuel 24:16 al.Hebrew writers often express themselves -anthropopathically," i.e. attribute to God the feelings or emotions of a man. God is thus said to -repent," not because He really changes His purpose, but because He does so apparently, when, in consequence of a change in the character and conduct of men, He is obliged to make a corresponding change in the purpose towards them which He had previously announced, and adopt towards them a new attitude. See esp. Jeremiah 18, where it is taught that if man repents, a threat may be withdrawn (cf. Jeremiah 26:3; Jeremiah 26:13; Jeremiah 26:19; Jonah 3:9-10), while on the other hand if man turns to evil a promise may be revoked. Here Jehovah -repents," as a consequence of Moses" intercession (cf. Amos 7:3; Amos 7:6). God is also said to -repent," when he stops a judgement in the midst, as it seems, of its course, through compassion (2 Samuel 24:16; Deuteronomy 32:36). Where, however, nothing is likely to occur to cause a change in Jehovah's declared purpose, He is said to be -not a man, that he should repent" (1 Samuel 15:29; cf. Numbers 23:19).