20 Bible Verses about Backsliders

And it chanced, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, and had brought the gods of the children of Seir, he set them up to be his gods, and bowed himself before them and burned cense unto them.

And he did that pleased the LORD: but not with the whole heart.

But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers, starting aside like a broken bow.

O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, how shall I entreat thee? Seeing your love is like a morning cloud, and like a dew that goeth early away.

which start back from the LORD, and neither seek after the LORD, nor regard him.

Turn us again, O God: show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole. O LORD God of Hosts, how long wilt thou be angry over the prayer of thy people? Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, yea thou hast given them plenteousness of tears to drink. read more.
Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours, and our enemies laugh us to scorn. Turn us again, thou God of hosts; show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, look down from heaven, behold and visit this vine, and the place of the vineyard that thy righthand hath planted, and the son whom thou madest so strong for thyself. It is burnt with fire, and cut down; O let them perish at the rebuke of thy wrath. read more.
Let thy hand be upon the man of thy righthand, and upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own self. And so will not we go back from thee; O let us live, and we shall call upon thy name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts; show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Then shall man convert again unto his maker, and turn his eyes to the holy one of Israel.

They also which have been of an erroneous spirit shall come to understanding, and they that have been scornful shall learn doctrine."

Therefore, O ye children of Israel, turn again from that infidelity wherein you drowned yourselves. For in that day every man shall cast out his Idols of silver and gold, which ye have made with your sinful hands.

And when the people saw that it was long or Moses came down out of the mountain, they gathered themselves together and came unto Aaron and said unto him, "Up, and make us a god to go before us: for of this Moses, the fellow that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become."

have marred all: they are turned at once out of the way which I commanded them, and have made them a calf of molten metal, and have worshipped it and have offered thereto and have said, 'This is thy God thou Israel, which hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt.'"

"It repenteth me that I have made Saul king. For he is turned from me and hath not performed my commandments." Wherefore Samuel was evil apaid and cried unto the LORD all night.

From that time, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that believe not." For Jesus knew from the beginning, which they were that believed not. And who should betray him.

For many of them are all ready turned back, and are gone after Satan.

Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, that thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which called herself a prophetess to teach and to deceive my servants, to make them commit fornication, and to eat meats offered up unto idols.

Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, for thou hast left thy first love.

For many of them are all ready turned back, and are gone after Satan.

But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast, there, they that maintain the doctrine of Balaam, which taught in Balak to put occasion of sin before the children of Israel, that they should eat of meat dedicated unto idols, and to commit fornication. Even so hast thou them that maintain the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Be awake, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If you shalt not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which he said unto him, "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice": and went out at the doors and wept bitterly.

And again the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus said unto him. "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice," and began to weep.

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Peter sat without in the palace, and a damsel came to him, saying, "Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied before them all saying, "I know not what thou sayest." When he was gone out into the porch, another wench saw him, and said unto them that were there, "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth." read more.
And again he denied with an oath that he knew the man. And after a while, came unto him they that stood by, and said unto Peter, "Surely thou art even one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee." Then began he to curse and to swear, that he knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which he said unto him, "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice": and went out at the doors and wept bitterly.

I marvel that ye are so soon turned from him that called you in the grace of Christ, unto another gospel:

O foolish Galatians: who hath bewitched you, that ye should not believe the truth, to whom Jesus Christ was described before the eyes, and among you crucified?

But now, seeing ye know God - yea rather are known of God - how is it that ye turn again unto the weak and beggarly ceremonies, whereunto again ye desire afresh to be in bondage? Ye observe the days, and months, and times, and years. I am in fear of you, lest I have bestowed on you labour in vain.

For in Jesus Christ, neither is circumcision anything worth, neither yet uncircumcision: but faith, which by love is mighty in operation. Ye did run well. Who was a let unto you, that ye should not obey the truth?

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through waterless places seeking rest. And when he findeth none, he sayeth, I will return again unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits worse than himself: and they enter in, and dwell there. And the end of that man is worse than the beginning."

There goeth a common saying that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not once named among the gentiles: that one should have his father's wife. And ye swell and have not rather sorrowed, that he which hath done this deed might be put from among you. For I, verily, as absent in body, even so present in spirit, have determined already - as though I were present - of him that hath done this deed; read more.
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver him unto Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your rejoicing is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven soureth the whole lump of dough? Purge therefore the old leaven, that ye may be new dough, as ye are sweet bread. For Christ our Easter lamb is offered up for us. Therefore let us keep holiday, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of maliciousness and wickedness - but with the sweet bread of pureness and truth.

For I fear, lest it come to pass, that when I come I shall not find you such as I would: and I shall be found unto you such as I would not. I fear lest there be found among you debate, envying, wrath, strife, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord. I fear lest when I come again, God bring me low among you, and I be constrained to bewail many of them which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and wantonness which they have committed.

Did not Solomon the king of Israel sin therein? And yet among many Heathen was there no king like him, and he was dear unto his God, and God made him king over all Israel, and yet nevertheless outlandish women caused him to sin?

For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart after other gods: so that his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. And Solomon followed Ashtaroth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD and continued not after the LORD as did David his father. read more.
After that, Solomon built an altar for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites in the hill that standeth before Jerusalem, and unto Moloch the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his outlandish wives, which burnt cense and offered unto their gods. Then was the LORD angry with Solomon because his heart turned from the LORD God of Israel which appeared unto him twice, and gave him a charge of this thing that he should not follow other gods. But he kept not that which the LORD commanded him: whereupon the LORD said to Solomon, "Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept mine covenant and mine ordinances which I have commanded thee, therefore I will rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding, in thy days I will not do it, because of David thy father: but I will take it from thy son. Howbeit I will not take away all: but will give one tribe to thy son, because of David my servant and because of Jerusalem which I have chosen." And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, one Hadad, an Edomite and of the king's lineage of Edom. For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury them that were slain, he smote all the males in Edom - for Joab remained six months, and all Israel, till he had rooted out all the males that were in Edom. And this Hadad fled, and certain other Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go to Egypt; Hadad being yet a little lad. And they arose out of Midian and went to Paran, and took men with them out of Paran and came to Egypt unto Pharaoh king thereof, which gave him a house, and appointed him victuals and gave him lands. And Hadad gat great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the Queen. And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son. And Tahpenes weaned him in Pharaoh's house. And he was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh. And when Hadad heard say in Egypt that David was laid to sleep with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead also, he said to Pharaoh, "Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country." Then said Pharaoh unto him, "What lackest thou here with me, that thou wouldest go to thine own country?" And he said, "Nothing: howbeit, let me go." And God stirred up another adversary, one Rezon the son of Eliada, which fled from Hadadezer king of Zobah his master. Which Rezon gathered men unto him and became captain over the company, when David slew them. And they went to Damascus and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, with the evil that Hadad did, which abhorred Israel and reigned in Syria. And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zeredah - whose mother was called Zeruah and was a widow and Solomon's servant - lifted up his hand against the king. And hereof came it, that he lifted up his hand against the king. Solomon built Mello and mended broken places in the city of David his father. And this fellow Jeroboam was an active man. And when Solomon saw the young man, that he wrought so lustily in the work, he made him ruler over all the charges of the house of Joseph. And it chanced, at that season, as Jeroboam was gone out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him by the way, having a new mantle on him, and they two alone in the field. And Ahijah caught the new mantle that was on him and rent it in twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam, "Take thee ten pieces. For this sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'Behold, I will rent the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon and will give ten tribes to thee, and he shall have one, for my servant David's sake and for Jerusalem the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel: because they have forsaken me, and have bowed themselves unto Ashtaroth the God of the Sidonians, and to Chemosh the God of the Moabites and to Milcom the God of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that pleaseth me, and mine ordinances and customs, as David his father. Howbeit, I will take none of the kingdom out of his hand: but will make him chief all his life long, for David my servant's sake, which I chose: because he kept my commandments and ordinances. But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and will give unto thee ten tribes of it: and will give his son one, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me, to put my name there. And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign upon all that thy soul desireth and shalt be king over Israel. And if thou shalt hearken unto all that I command thee, and shalt walk in my ways and do that is right in my sight, that thou keep mine ordinances and commandments as David my servant did: then will I be with thee and build thee a house that shall continue, as I built for my servant David, and will give Israel unto thee. And therewith will I vex the seed of David, but not forever.'" And Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam: wherefore Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt unto Shishak king of Egypt and continued there until the death of Solomon.

From that time, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

All this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

"It repenteth me that I have made Saul king. For he is turned from me and hath not performed my commandments." Wherefore Samuel was evil apaid and cried unto the LORD all night.

Then said Samuel unto Saul, "I will not return with thee: for thou hast cast away the bidding of God, and therefore the LORD hath cast away thee also, that thou shalt not be king over Israel." And as Samuel turned to go away, he caught the lap of his coat, and it rent. Then Samuel said, "The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou.

And the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the other children of the captivity held the dedication of the house of God with joy, and offered at the dedication of the house of God, a hundred calves, two hundred lambs, four hundred goats: and for the sin offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, and set the priests in their courses, and the Levites in their offices to minister unto God which is at Jerusalem as it is written in the book of Moses. read more.
And the children of the captivity held Passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month: for the priests and Levites had purified themselves, so that they were all clean as one man, and killed Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. And the children of Israel which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the Heathen in the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate

For Demas hath left me, and hath loved this present world, and is departed into Thessalonica. Crescens is gone to Galatia, and Titus unto Dalmatia.

So shalt thou, O Damascus, be desolate: because thou hast forgotten God thy Saviour, and hast not called to remembrance the rock of thy strength. Wherefore thou hast also set a fair plant, and grafted a strange branch. In the day when thou didst plant it, it was great, and gave soon the fruit of thy seed: But in the day of harvest, thou shalt reap a heap of sorrows and miseries.

After that said he to Thomas, "Bring thy finger hither and see my hands, and bring thy hand and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing." Thomas answered and said unto him, "My Lord, and my God." Jesus said unto him, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, therefore hast thou believest: Happy are they that have not seen, and yet believe."

And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers and walked not in the way of the LORD. And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart after other gods: so that his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

And the king held a counsel with his lords and all the congregation at Jerusalem to keep the feast of Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time: for there were not priests enough sanctified, neither was the people gathered together to Jerusalem. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. read more.
And they decreed that it should be proclaimed throughout all Israel from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come and hold the feast of the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not often done it, as it is written how they should. And the messengers went with letters of the hand of the king and of his lords throughout all Israel and Judah, at the commandment of the king; which said, "Children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and so will he turn to the remnant of you that are escaped out of the hands of the king of Assyria. And be ye not like your fathers and your brethren which trespassed against the LORD of your fathers, which therefore gave them up that they are wasted, as ye see. Wherefore, be not stiff-necked like unto your fathers, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and come to his holy place which he hath sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his wrath may turn from you. For if ye turn unto the LORD, then your brethren and your children shall find compassion in the presence of them that hold them captive, that they may come again unto this land: for the LORD your God is full of mercy and compassion, and will not turn his face from you, if ye turn again to him." And the posts went from city to city throughout the land of Ephraim and Manasseh and even unto Zebulun. But they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless, yet divers of Asher, Manasseh and of Zebulun meekened themselves and came to Jerusalem. And thereto the hand of God was in Judah, to make them of one accord to do the commandment of the king and the captains, which was according to the word of the LORD.

having faith and good conscience, which some have put away from them, and as concerning faith have made shipwreck. Of whose number is Hymenaeus, and Alexander, which I have delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

And when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and made it strong, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him; wherefore, the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,

At that same time, Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because thou trustedest in the king of Syria, and trustest not in the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the black Moors and they of Libya a great host with exceeding many chariots and horsemen? And yet because thou trustedest in the LORD, he delivered them into thine hands. For the eyes of the LORD behold all the earth, to strengthen the hearts of them that are whole with him. Herein thou hast done foolishly, and therefore from henceforth thou shalt have war."

And all the company of the children of Israel went on their journeys from the wilderness of Sin at the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: where was no water for the people to drink. And the people chode with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said unto them, "Why chide ye with me, and wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?" There the people thirsted for water, and murmured against Moses and said, "Wherefore hast thou brought us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" read more.
And Moses cried unto the LORD saying, "What shall I do unto this people? They be almost ready to stone me!" And the LORD said unto Moses, "Go before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel: and thy rod wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand and go. Behold, I will stand there before thee upon a rock in Horeb: and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out thereof, that the people may drink." And Moses did even so before the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place: Massah-and-Meribah: because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

And after that time that Amaziah did turn away from the LORD, they conspired treason against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish, whither they sent after him and slew him there,

And though the army of Syria came with a small company of men, yet the LORD delivered a very great host into their hands, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. And thereto they served Joash according.

They on the stones, are they which, when they hear, receive the word with joy. But these have no roots, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation go away.

This thou knowest, how that all they which are in Asia be turned from me; Of which sort are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

For Demas hath left me, and hath loved this present world, and is departed into Thessalonica. Crescens is gone to Galatia, and Titus unto Dalmatia.

And Jonah made him ready to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and gat him down to Joppa, and found there a ship ready to go to Tarshish, and paid his fare, and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

And the children of Israel wrought wickedness yet again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD and served him not. And the LORD was wroth with Israel, and sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon: which pilled and oppressed the children of Israel in those days eighteen years, all that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites in Gilead. read more.
Moreover, the children of Ammon went over Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim: so that Israel was sore cumbered. Then the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against thee: for we have forsaken our own God, and have served Baalim." And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, "Did not the Egyptians, the Amorites, the children of Ammon, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppress you? And ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hands. And for all that, ye have forsaken me, and serve strange gods, wherefore I will help you no more. But go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen, and let them save you in the time of your tribulation." But the children of Israel said unto the LORD, "We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever please thee, and deliver us only at this time." And they put away the strange gods from them and served the LORD. And the misery of Israel grieved his soul. Then the children of Ammon gathered together and pitched in Gilead. And the children of Israel gathered them together and pitched in Mizpeh. And the company of the lords of Gilead said each to other, "Whosoever will begin the battle against the children of Ammon, the same shall be head over all the inhabiters of Gilead."

And the children of Israel began again to commit wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.