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. Proverbs 14:14 .
2. sarar, to act like a refractory heifer, that will not draw regularly in the plough: to which Israel is compared. Hosea 4:16 .
3. meshubah, 'a turning away, apostasy.' Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 3:6-12,22; Jeremiah 5:6; Jeremiah 8:5; Jeremiah 14:7; Hosea 11:7; Hosea 14:4 .
4. shobeb 'rebellious, backsliding.' Jeremiah 3:14,22; Jeremiah 31:22; Jeremiah 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 Hebrews 10:38,39 . See APOSTASY.