Backslider
Backslider
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. Pro 14:14.
2. sarar , to act like a refractory heifer, that will not draw regularly in the plough: to which Israel is compared. Hos 4:16.
3. meshubah , ‘a turning away, apostasy.’ Jer 2:19; Jer 3:6-12; Jer 3:22; Jer 5:6; Jer 8:5; Jer 14:7; Hos 11:7; Hos 14:4.
4. shobeb ‘rebellious, backsliding.’ Jer 3:14; Jer 3:22; Jer 31:22; Jer 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.