# Is “I’m Sorry” Biblical? Honor, Social Order, and Forgiveness in Scripture (Joshua Berman) Ep.#240

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-biblical-mind-543674/is-i-m-sorry-biblical-honor-social-order-and-forgiveness-in-scripture-joshua-berman-ep-240
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-biblical-mind-543674/is-i-m-sorry-biblical-honor-social-order-and-forgiveness-in-scripture-joshua-berman-ep-240.md
Podcast: [The Biblical Mind](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-biblical-mind-543674)
Published: 2026-02-19T10:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://centerforhebraicthought.podbean.com/e/is-i-m-sorry-biblical-honor-social-order-and-forgiveness-in-scripture-joshua-berman-ep240/
Audio file: https://rss.art19.com/episodes/53cf8e13-7c26-4f99-95bf-2c570dd85ed7.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0
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Duration seconds: 2352

## Resource

Does it matter whether we feel sorry when we ask for forgiveness? In this conversation, Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman returns to discuss the surprising findings of his long-term research into forgiveness in the Hebrew Bible. The biblical word slicha (“forgiveness”) appears only in relation to God—not between people. In fact, there is no word for “apology” in biblical Hebrew. So how were offenses resolved? Drawing on honor culture studies and examples ranging from Jacob and Esau to Judah and Tamar, Dr. Berman argues that ancient Israel operated within a different moral economy. Reconciliation was not primarily about emotional sincerity or repairing inner feelings—it was about restoring public order and status. Offense disrupted hierarchy; reconciliation restored it. From duels between Hamilton and Burr to modern military and team dynamics, Berman shows how deeply culture shapes what we mean by “forgiveness.” The result is a paradigm shift that challenges modern Western assumptions about apology, sincerity, and moral transformation. The conversation concludes with the launch of Dr. Berman’s new podcast, The Bible Bar, dedicated to exploring Scripture chapter by chapter with intellectual and spiritual integrity. For "The Bible Bar" on Spotify, go here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-bible-bar/ Or if you prefer the RSS feed: https://anchor.fm/s/10e77a470/podcast/rss We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapter: 00:00 I…

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