Reference: Backslider
Morish
There are four Hebrew words applied to backsliding.
1. sug, 'to go back:' 'the backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways,' instead of God's ways. Pr 14:14.
2. sarar, to act like a refractory heifer, that will not draw regularly in the plough: to which Israel is compared. Ho 4:16.
3. meshubah, 'a turning away, apostasy.' Jer 2:19; 3:6-12,22; 5:6; 8:5; 14:7; Ho 11:7; 14:4.
4. shobeb 'rebellious, backsliding.' Jer 3:14,22; 31:22; 49:4. The last three words are all used of backsliding Israel. We do not find the word 'backslider' in the N.T. but the same sin is there pointed out, for instance the drawing back which may lead to perdition as in Heb 10:38-39. See APOSTASY.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
An unfaithful person shall be filled with his own ways; but a good man will beware of such.
Thine own wickedness shall reprove thee, and thy turning away shall condemn thee: that thou mayest know and understand, how evil and hurtful a thing it is, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and not feared him, sayeth the LORD God of Hosts.
The LORD said also unto me, in the time of Josiah the king, "Hast thou seen what that shrinking Israel hath done? How she hath run up upon all high hills, and among all thick trees, and there played the harlot? Hast thou seen also, when she had done all this, how I said unto her that she should turn again unto me, and yet she is not returned? Judah, that unfaithful sister of hers also saw this: read more. Namely, that after I had well seen the adultery of the shrinking harlot Israel, I put her away, and gave her a bill of divorcement. For all this, her unfaithful sister Judah was not ashamed, but went back and played the whore also. Yea, and the noise of her whoredom hath defiled the whole land. For she hath committed her adultery with stones and stocks. Nevertheless, her unfaithful sister Judah is not turned unto me again with her whole heart, but feignedly, sayeth the LORD." And the LORD said unto me, "The shrinking Israel is more righteous than the unfaithful Judah: and therefore go preach these words toward the north, and say, 'Thou shrinking Israel, turn again, sayeth the LORD; and I will not turn my face from you, for I am merciful, sayeth the LORD. And I will not always bear displeasure against thee:
O ye shrinking children, turn again, sayeth the LORD: and I will be married with you. For I will take one out of the city, and two out of one generation from among you, and bring you out of Zion:
"O ye shrinking children, turn again, saying, "Lo, we are thine, for thou art the LORD our God!" And so shall I heal your backturnings.
"O ye shrinking children, turn again, saying, "Lo, we are thine, for thou art the LORD our God!" And so shall I heal your backturnings.
Wherefore a lion out of the wood shall hurt them, and a wolf in the evening shall destroy them. The cat of the mountain shall lie lurking by their cities, to tare in pieces all them that come thereout. For their offenses are many, and their departing away is great.
Wherefore then is this people and Jerusalem gone so far back, that they turn not again? They are ever the longer, the more obstinate, and will not be converted.
"Doubtless our own wickedness reward us: But LORD do thou according to thy name, though our transgressions and sins be many.
How long wilt thou go astray, O thou shrinking daughter? For the LORD will work a new thing upon earth: A woman shall compass a man.
Wherefore trustest thou in the water streams, that flow to and fro, O thou fierce daughter? And thinkest thou art so safe, by reason of thy treasure, that no man shall come to thee?
For Israel is gone back like a wanton cow. The LORD therefore shall make her feed, as the lamb that goeth astray.
My people hath no lust to turn unto me, their prophets lay the yoke upon them, but they ease them not of their burden.
I will heal their obedience and will love them of mine own accord: for my wrath is ceased from them.
But the just shall live by faith. And if he withdraw himself, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. We are not which withdraw ourselves unto damnation, but pertain to faith, to the winning of the soul.