Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum
“Her many sins are forgiven, because she loved much.”
Vulgate, Luke 7:47
What does “Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum” mean?
Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum translates as “Her many sins are forgiven, because she loved much.”
Love and forgiveness are linked: great love brings great mercy. It speaks to anyone seeking a second chance.
“Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Remittuntur | are forgiven | third person plural present passive indicative of remitto, “I send back, release, forgive”; literally “are being released” |
| ei | to her | dative singular feminine of is, ea, id (“she, that”); the person who receives the forgiveness |
| peccata | sins | nominative plural neuter of peccatum, “sin, offence”; the subject of the passive verb |
| multa | many | nominative plural neuter of multus, “much, many”; agrees with peccata |
| quoniam | because | conjunction: “because, since” |
| dilexit | she loved | third person singular perfect active indicative of diligo, “I love, esteem” |
| multum | much | accusative singular neuter of multus used as an adverb: “greatly, much” |
How to pronounce “Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum”
The two systems differ little here: Church Latin has the same sounds except for the i of dilexit, which is a clear “ee” in the Italianate style, and classical ei is closer to “ay-ee”. Stress remittuntur on the third syllable, peccata on the second, quoniam on the first and dilexit on the second.
The story behind it
The line is Jesus’s reply in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 7, verse 47, in the Latin Vulgate translation. He speaks of a woman who washed his feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and anointed them with ointment while he was a guest at a Pharisee’s house.
The Pharisee had doubted that Jesus could know what kind of woman she was. Jesus answers with a short parable about two debtors and then says that her great love shows that her many sins have been forgiven.
The sentence has often been read and preached as a statement about how love and forgiveness belong together. It is still quoted in sermons, hymns and reflections on mercy and repentance.
How to use “Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum”
Suited to a reflection or sermon on mercy, a confession or prayer booklet, a card of encouragement to someone seeking a second chance, or a religious inscription. Because it comes from a specific scene in Luke, it works best when that context is respected.
- Latin
- Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum
- English
- Her many sins are forgiven, because she loved much.
- Source
- Vulgate, Luke 7:47
- Era
- Church Latin
- Theme
- Love
Common mistakes
- The verb is passive: the sins are forgiven (remittuntur), not “she forgives”. Someone else does the forgiving.
- Quoniam dilexit multum can be read two ways: as the reason for the forgiveness or as the sign of it. Do not insist on one reading without considering the context in Luke.
- Multa (many) agrees with peccata, while multum (much) is an adverb and does not change. Do not make them match.
- The Latin is Vulgate Church Latin, so ei and dilexit are not classical-era phrasing, which matters if you compare with ancient Roman texts.
Questions about “Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum”
What does “Remittuntur ei peccata multa” mean literally?
“Many sins are forgiven to her.” Ei is dative, so the sins are forgiven for her, and the verb is passive. The smooth English version is “Her many sins are forgiven.”
Where does “Remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum” come from?
From the Latin Vulgate of Luke 7:47. Jesus says it about the woman who anointed his feet at the house of a Pharisee.
How do you pronounce “Remittuntur ei peccata multa”?
In Church Latin: reh-MIT-toon-toor EH-ee pek-KAH-tah MOOL-tah. Classical pronunciation is nearly the same.
Is “Remittuntur ei peccata multa” good Latin for a tattoo?
The grammar is correct as written, but it refers to a woman (ei is feminine in the story) and is a full sentence, so check that it suits you. For a male wearer, ei is still correct as a dative, but the quote then reads as a quotation about someone else.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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