20 Bible Verses about Backsliders

After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them.

He did what Jehovah considered right, but he did not do it wholeheartedly.

They were disloyal and treacherous like their ancestors. They were like arrows shot from a defective bow.

What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.

The same for those who have turned back from following Jehovah, and those who have not sought Jehovah or inquired of Him.

O God, restore us and cause your face to shine (smile on us) (show us favor) that we will be saved. O Jehovah God, commander of armies, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people? You made them eat tears as food. You often made them drink their own tears. read more.
You made us a source of conflict to our neighbors. Our enemies make fun of us. O God, commander of armies, restore us and smile on us so that we may be saved.

O God, commander of armies, come back! Look from heaven and see! Come to help this vine. Take care of what your right hand planted, the son you strengthened for yourself. The vine has been cut down and burned. Let them be destroyed by the threatening look on your face. read more.
Let your power rest on the man you have chosen, the son of man you strengthened for yourself. Then we will never turn away from you. Give us life again, and we will call on your name. O Jehovah God, commander of armies, restore us, and cause your face to shine (smile) on us so that we may be saved.

On that day people will regard their Maker. Their eyes will look (offer respect) to the Holy One of Israel.

People who stray will learn to understand. Those who always grumble will be glad to be taught.

Return you people of Israel, return to the one whom you have so violently rebelled against. When that day comes, all of you will reject the worthless gods of silver and gold, the idols that your sinful hands have made.

The people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain. They gathered around Aaron. They said to him: We do not know what has happened to Moses, the man who led us out of Egypt. Make gods to lead us.

They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They made a statue of a calf for themselves. They have bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it. They said: Israel, here is your god who brought you out of Egypt.'

I am sorry that I made Saul king. He has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands. Samuel was angry. All night long he pleaded with Jehovah.

After this many of his disciples returned to their old ways. They did not walk with him anymore.

It is the spirit that gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I spoke to you are spirit and life. There are some of you who do not believe. Jesus knew from the beginning whom they were who did not believe and who would betray him.

Some have already turned aside after Satan.

But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads my servants astray so that they commit immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

However I have this against you: you do not love me now as you did at first.

Some have already turned aside after Satan.

I have a few things against you: you have people there who hold to the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to present a snare to the sons of Israel, to eat of idol sacrifices and commit fornication. You also have those who hold the doctrine (teaching) of the sect of Nicolaus in like manner.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain that are at the point of death: for I have not found your works perfect (completed) before God. Remember what you received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If you do not stay awake, I will come to you like a thief. You will not know the hour when I will come to you.

Peter remembered what Jesus told him: Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times. He went out and wept bitterly.

Then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus said: Before the rooster crows two times, you will deny me three times. He broke down and cried.

He left there and wept bitterly.

Peter was seated in the square outside the house, and a servant-girl came to him. She said: You were with Jesus the Galilean. In front of everybody, he replied: I do not know what you are talking about. When he reached the gate, another saw him and said: This man was with Jesus the Nazarene. read more.
Again he denied with an oath: I have no knowledge of the man. A few moments later, those who were near approached and said to Peter: Indeed, you are one of them, because the way you speak gives you away. Then with curses and oaths he said: I do not know the man! And immediately a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus told him: Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times. He went out and wept bitterly.

I am amazed that you so quickly turned away from the One who called you by the grace of Christ. You turned to different good news.

O foolish Galatians, who fascinated (cast a spell over) (beguiled) (influenced) you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was openly presented impaled.

Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and poor fundamental things? Do you want to slave for them all over again? You observe days and months, seasons and years. I fear for you, that I have labored for you to no purpose (and failed).

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision means anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love. You were running well! Who hindered you that you should not obey the truth?

When an unclean spirit leaves a man it passes through desolate places. It seeks rest and finds none. It says, 'I will return from where I came.' When he returns he finds the place swept and adorned.

He then takes seven other spirits more evil than himself and they enter in and dwell. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first.

It is reported that there is sexual immorality among you. This type of fornication is not even found among the people of the nations (who do not know God). There is a man who has his father's wife. And you are proud! You should have been filled with sadness that he did this deed. And you should have ejected (expelled) (excommunicated) (disfellowshiped) him from your congregation. I am not there with you in person. But I am with you in spirit. I have already judged the man who did this. read more.
When you assemble in the name and with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, I will be with you in spirit. Deliver this one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your boasting is not good. Do you know that a little leaven ferments the whole batch of dough? Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new batch of dough. For even Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I am afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I fear that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication and loose conduct that they have practiced.

Was it not in these things that Solomon, king of Israel, did wrong? Among a number of nations there was no king like him. He was dear to his God, and God made him king over all Israel. But even he was made to do evil by strange women.

When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been. Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the disgusting god of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not walk in Jehovah's ways with all his heart as David his father did. read more.
Then Solomon put up a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, in the mountain near Jerusalem. And for Molech, the disgusting god worshipped by the children of Ammon. He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods. Jehovah was angry with Solomon. This is because his heart turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had twice come to him in a vision. Jehovah had given him orders about this very thing that he was not to go after other gods. But he did not obey the orders of Jehovah. So Jehovah said to Solomon: Because you have done this, and have not kept the agreement and laws I gave you, I will take the kingdom away from you by force and will give it to your servant. I will not do it in your lifetime, because of your father David, but I will take it from your son. Still I will not take the entire kingdom from him. I will give one tribe to your son, because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem, the town of my selection. Jehovah sent Hadad the Edomite to make trouble for Solomon. He was of the king's seed in Edom. When David had sent destruction on Edom, and Joab, the commander of the army went to bury the dead. They put to death every male in Edom. Joab and all Israel stayed there six months until they had destroyed every male in Edom. Hadad was a young boy at the time. He and some of his father's Edomite servants fled to Egypt. They left Midian and went to Paran. Taking some men from Paran with them, they went to Pharaoh the king of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Hadad a home, a food allowance, and land. Pharaoh approved of Hadad. So he gave Hadad his sister-in-law, the sister of Queen Tahpenes, to be Hadad's wife. Tahpenes' sister had a son named Genubath. Tahpenes presented the boy to Pharaoh in the palace, and Genubath lived in the palace among Pharaoh's children. When the news reached Hadad in Egypt that David had died and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to the king: Let me go back to my own country. Why? The king asked. Have I failed to give you something? Is that why you want to go back home? Hadad answered: Just let me go. He went back to his country. As king of Edom, Hadad was an evil, bitter enemy of Israel. God also caused Rezon son of Eliada to turn against Solomon. Rezon had fled from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah, and had become the leader of a gang of outlaws. This happened after David defeated Hadadezer and slaughtered his Syrian allies. Rezon and his gang lived in Damascus, where his followers made him king of Syria. He was trouble to Israel all through the days of Solomon. This is the damage Hadad did: he was cruel to Israel while he was ruler over Edom. Jeroboam rebelled against the king. He was the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother was Zeruah, a widow. This is how he rebelled: Solomon was building the Millo (supporting terraces) and making good the damaged parts of the town of his father David. Jeroboam was a capable and responsible man. Solomon saw that he was a good worker and made him overseer of all the work given to the sons of Joseph. When Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite came across him on the road. Ahijah was wearing a new robe. They were by themselves in the open country. Ahijah took his new robe in his hands and tore it into twelve pieces. He said to Jeroboam: Take ten of the parts, for this is what Jehovah said: 'I will take the kingdom away from Solomon by force. I will give ten tribes to you. But one tribe will be his because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem. Out of the tribes of Israel he will have the town I have made mine. I am going to do this because Solomon has rejected me and has worshiped foreign gods. Astarte, the goddess of Sidon; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of Ammon. Solomon disobeyed me. He has done wrong! He has not obeyed my laws and commands as his father David did. I will not take the entire kingdom away from Solomon. I will keep him in power as long as he lives. This I will do for the sake of my servant David, whom I chose and who obeyed my laws and commands. I will take the kingdom away from Solomon's son and will give you ten tribes. I will let Solomon's son keep one tribe. That way I will always have a descendant of my servant David ruling in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as the place where I am worshiped. Jeroboam, I will make you king of Israel. You will rule over all the territory that you want. If you obey me completely I will always be with you. You must live by my laws, and win my approval by doing what I command, as my servant David did. I will make you king of Israel and will make sure that your descendants rule after you, just as I have done for David. Because of Solomon's sin I will punish the descendants of David, but not forever.' For this reason Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. Jeroboam escaped to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until Solomon's death.

After this many of his disciples returned to their old ways. They did not walk with him anymore.

This has taken place so that the writings of the prophets will come true. Then all his disciples left him.

I am sorry that I made Saul king. He has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands. Samuel was angry. All night long he pleaded with Jehovah.

I will not return with you, Samuel answered. You rejected Jehovah's command. He has rejected you as king of Israel. Samuel turned to leave, but Saul caught hold of his cloak, and it tore. Samuel said to him: Jehovah has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He gave it to someone who is a better man than you.

The children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of those who had come back, kept the feast of the opening of this house of God with joy. They gave a hundred oxen, two hundred sheep and four hundred lambs as offerings at the opening of this house of God. They gave twelve he goats as a sin offering for all of Israel. Twelve is the number of the tribes of Israel. They put the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their order, for the worship of God at Jerusalem. This is recorded in the book of Moses. read more.
And the children of Israel who came back kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. the priests and the Levites made themselves clean together. They were all clean when they put the Passover lamb to death for all those who had come back, and for their brothers the priests and for themselves. The children of Israel, who had come back, and all those who were joined to them, after separating themselves from the evil ways of the people of the land to become the servants of Jehovah, the God of Israel, ate together.

For Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation. You have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold. Therefore you will plant pleasant plants and set out foreign (imported) (unusual) seedlings. In that day you will make your plant grow. In the morning you will make your seed flourish; but the harvest will be a heap of ruins in the day of grief and desperate sorrow.

Jesus said to Thomas: Put your finger here and look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and believe! Thomas answered: My Lord and my God! (John 1:18; 10:36; 20:17) Jesus said to him: Because you saw me, you believe. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe!

Amon turned away from Jehovah the God of his fathers. He did not walk in his ways. The servants of Amon conspired against him. They killed the king in his house.

When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been.

The king, his officials, and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. They could not celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy and the people had not gathered in Jerusalem. The king and the entire assembly considered their plan to be the right thing to do. read more.
They decided to send an announcement throughout Israel from Beersheba to Dan. They summoned everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of Jehovah God of Israel. These people had not celebrated it in large numbers as the written instructions said they should. Messengers carried letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. The king's order said: Israelites should return to Jehovah the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then he will return to the few of you who escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your ancestors and your relatives who were unfaithful to Jehovah the God of their ancestors. He made them something that shocks people, as you have seen. Do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to Jehovah and enter his sanctuary that he has consecrated from generation to generation. Serve Jehovah your God that His burning anger may turn away from you. If you return to Jehovah, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. Jehovah your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face away from you if you return to him. So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of Jehovah.

Keep the faith and maintain a good conscience! Some have rejected these things and have suffered shipwreck to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I handed them over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

Rehoboam established his kingdom and made himself strong. He and all Israel abandoned Jehovah's teachings. King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. This took place in the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign. It happened because all Israel was not loyal to Jehovah.

Then the prophet Hanani went to King Asa. He said: Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on Jehovah your God, the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you. The Ethiopians and the Libyans, did they have large armies with many chariots and cavalry troops? But because you relied on Jehovah he gave you victory over them. The eyes of Jehovah keep close watch over the entire world. He gives strength (shows His strength) to (in behalf of) those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly! Therefore from now on you will always be at war.

The entire congregation of Israelites left the desert of Sin and traveled from place to place as Jehovah commanded them. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they complained to Moses about this: Give us water to drink! Moses said: Why do you complain to me? Why do you test Jehovah? The people were thirsty for water. They complained to Moses and asked: Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to make us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst? read more.
Moses cried out to Jehovah: What should I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me! Jehovah said to Moses: Go in front of the people. Take the elders of Israel with you. Take your rod with which you struck the river, in your hand, and go. Behold! I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock and water will come out of it. Then the people may drink. Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the complaining of the children of Israel, and because they tested Jehovah, saying: Is Jehovah among us or not?

Amaziah turned away from Jehovah. So conspirators in Jerusalem plotted against him. Amaziah fled to Lachish, but they sent men to Lachish after him and killed him there.

The Aramean army came with a small number of men. Jehovah handed Joash's large army over to them because Joash's soldiers had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out Jehovah's judgment on Joash.

Those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy. These have no root. They believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

You know that all that are in Asia turned away from me. This includes Phygelus and Hermogenes.

For Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Jonah tried to run away from the presence of Jehovah (YHWH). He went to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of Jehovah.

Once again the Israelites did evil against Jehovah by worshiping the Baals and the Astartes. They also worshiped the gods of Syria, of Sidon, of Moab, of Ammon, and of the Philistines. They abandoned Jehovah and stopped worshiping him. The anger of Jehovah burned against Israel. So he allowed the Philistines and the Ammonites to conquer them. They afflicted and oppressed the sons of Israel. For eighteen years they lived in Amorite country east of the Jordan River in Gilead. read more.
The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel was greatly distressed. The children of Israel cried out to Jehovah: We sinned against you. We left our God and served the Baals. Jehovah answered: Did I free you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines? Did I save you from the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? They oppressed you and you cried out to me. You still left me and worshiped other gods. I am not going to rescue you again. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them save you in your time of trouble. But the people of Israel said to Jehovah: We have sinned. Do to us what seems best to you, only please, save us today! So they removed the foreign gods and worshiped Jehovah. He could bear the distress of Israel no longer. Then the Ammonite army prepared camped in Gilead. They prepared for battle. The people of Israel gathered and camped at Mizpah in Gilead. There the people and the leaders of Gilead asked one another: Who is the man to lead the fight against the Ammonites? Whoever does will be the leader of everyone in Gilead.

The Israelites sinned against Jehovah again. So he let the Philistines rule them for forty years.