King James Bible Dictionary

BACK, noun

1. The upper part of an animal, particularly of a quadruped, whose back is a ridge. In human beings, the hinder part of the body.

2. The outward or convex part of the hand, opposed to the inner, concave part, or palm.

3. As the back of man is the part on the side opposite to the face; hence the part opposed to the front; as the back of a book and of a chimney, or the back of a house.

4. The part opposite to or most remote from that which fronts the speaker or actor, or the part out of sight; as the back of an isle, of a wood, of a village.

5. As the back is the strongest part of an animal, and as the back is behind in motion; hence the thick and strong part of a cutting tool; as the back of a knife, or of a saw.

6. The place behind or nearest the back; as, on the back of a hill or of a village.

7. The outer part of the body, or the whole body; a part for the whole; as, he has not clothes to his back

8. To turn the back on one, is to forsake, or neglect him.

9. To turn the back to one, to acknowledge to be superior.

10. To turn the back is to depart, or to leave the care or cognizance of; to remove or be absent.

11. Behind the back is in secret, or when one is absent.

12. To cast behind the back in scripture, is to forget and forgive, Is.xxxviii, 17; or to treat with contempt. Ez.xxiii.35. Neh.ix.26.

13. To plow the back is to oppress and persecute. Psalms 129:3.

14. To bow the back is to submit to oppression. Rom.xi.10.

BACK, adverb To the place from which one came; as, to go back is to return.

2. In a figurative sense, to a former state, condition or station; as, he cannot go back from his engagements.

3. Behind; not advancing; not coming or bringing forward; as, to keep back a part; to keep one's selfback.

4. Towards times or things past; as, to look back on former ages.

5. Again; in return; as, give back the money.

6. To go or come back is to return, either to a former place, or state.

7. To go or give back is to retreat to recede.

BACK, verb transitive To mount; to get upon the back; sometimes perhaps to place upon the back; as, to back a horse.

2. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid; as, the Court was backed by the House of Commons.

3. To put backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.

4. To back a warrant, is for a justice of the peace in the county where the warrant is to be executed, to sign or indorse a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender.

5. In seamanship, to back an anchor is to lay down a small anchor ahead of a large one, the cable of the small one being fastened to the crown of the large one, to prevent its coming home.

6. To back astern, in rowing, is to manage the oars in a direction contrary to the usual method, to move a boat stern foremost.

7. To back the sails, is to arrange them so as to cause the ship to move astern.

BACK, verb intransitive To move or go back; as, the horse refuses to back

In Psalms 15:3, the rendering of a word which means to run about tattling, calumniating; in Proverbs 25:23, secret talebearing or slandering; in Romans 1:30 and 2 Corinthians 12:20, evil-speaking, maliciously defaming the absent.

BACK'BITE, verb transitive [back and bite] To censure, slander, reproach, or speak evil of the absent. Proverbs 25:1.

BACK'BITER, noun One who slanders, calumniates or speaks ill of the absent.

General references
Psalms 15:1-3; Proverbs 25:23; Romans 1:28; Romans 1:30; 2 Corinthians 12:20
Accusation, False; Slander; Speaking, Evil

BACK'BITING, noun The act of slandering the absent; secret calumny. 2 Corinthians 12:20.

BACKBI'TINGLY, adverb With secret slander.

BACK'BOARD, noun [back and board.] A board placed across the after part of a boat.

BACKBO'NE, noun [back and bone.] The bone of the back; or the spine.

BACK'CARRY, noun A having on the back; a term of law.

BACKDOOR, noun [back and door.] A door on the back part of a bulding; a private passage; and indirect way.

BACK'ED, participle passive Mounted; having on the back; supported by aid; seconded; moved backward.

BACK'ED, adjective Having a back; a word used in composition; as broad-backed, hump-backed.

BACK'FRIEND, noun [back and friend.] A secret enemy.

BACKGAM'MON, noun A game played by two persons, upon a table, with box and dice. The table is in two parts, on which are 24 black and white spaces, called points. Each player has 15 men of different colors for the purpose of distinction.

BACK'GROUND, noun [back and ground.] Ground in the rear or behind, as opposed to the front.

2. A place of obscurity, or shade; a situation little seen, or noticed.

BACK'HANDED,adjective [back and hand.] With the hand turned backward; as a backhanded blow.

BACK'HANDED, adverb With the hand directed backward; as, to strike backhanded

BACK'HOUSE, noun [back and house.] A building behind the main or front building.

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BACK'ING, participle present tense Mounting; moving back, as a horse; seconding.

BACK'PAINTING, noun [back and paint.] The method of painting mezzotinto prints, pasted on glass of a size to fit the print.

BACK'PIECE, noun [back and piece.] The piece of armor which covers the back.

BACK'RETURN, noun Repeated return.

BACK'ROOM, noun [back and room.] A room behind the front room, or in the back part of the house.

BACKS, noun Among dealers in leather, the thickest and best tanned hides.

BACK'SET, adjective [back and set.] Set upon in the rear.

BACK'SIDE, noun [back and side.] The back part of anything; the part behind that which is presented to the face of a spectator. Exodus 3:1.

2. The hind part of an animal.

3. The yard, ground or place behind a house.

To draw back or apostatize in matters of religion (Acts 21:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1). This may be either partial (Proverbs 14:14) or complete (Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:38, 39). The apostasy may be both doctrinal and moral.

BACKSLI'DE, verb intransitive [back and slide.] To fall off; to apostatize; to turn gradually from the faith and practice of christianity. Jeremiah 3:1. Hosea 4.

BACKSLI'DER, noun An apostate; one who falls from the faith and practice of religion. Proverbs 14:14.

2. One who neglects his vows of obedience and falls into sin.

General references
Leviticus 26:14-42; Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 8:11-14; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; 1 Kings 9:6-9; Deuteronomy 29:18-28; Deuteronomy 32:15-30; Joshua 24:20-27; 2 Chronicles 15:2-4; Ezra 8:22; Job 34:26-27; Psalms 44:20-21; Psalms 73:27; Psalms 85:8; Psalms 125:5; Proverbs 2:17; Proverbs 14:14; Proverbs 24:16; Proverbs 26:11; Jeremiah 17:13; Ezekiel 3:20; Ezekiel 18:24; Ezekiel 18:26; Ezekiel 23:35; Ezekiel 33:12-13; Ezekiel 33:18; Hosea 11:7-8; Jonah 2:4; Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Matthew 24:12; Matthew 26:31; Mark 4:7; Mark 4:15-19; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:62; Luke 11:21-26; Matthew 12:45; Luke 17:32; John 6:67; John 15:6; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 12:20-21; Galatians 1:6-7; Galatians 3:1; Galatians 4:9-11; Galatians 5:7; 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 5:15; 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:8; 2 Timothy 2:12; 2 Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 3:12-13; Hebrews 4:1; Hebrews 4:11; Hebrews 5:11-12; Hebrews 6:4-8; Hebrews 10:26-29; Hebrews 10:38-39; Hebrews 11:14-15; Hebrews 12:15; 2 Peter 1:9; 2 Peter 2:20-21; 2 John 1:9; Revelation 2:4-5; Revelation 2:21-23; Revelation 3:2-3; Revelation 21:8
Apostasy; Backsliders, Backsliding of Israel; Church, The Collective Body of Believers, Backslidden; Reprobacy

Instances of:

Saul
1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 15:26-28

Solomon
1 Kings 11:4-40; Nehemiah 13:26

Amon
2 Kings 21:22-23

Rehoboam
2 Chronicles 12:1-2

Asa
2 Chronicles 16:7-9

Joash
2 Chronicles 24:24

Amaziah
2 Chronicles 25:27

Syrians
Isaiah 17:10-11

Jonah
Jonah 1:3

The disciples
Matthew 26:56; John 6:66

Peter
Matthew 26:69-75

Corinthian Christians
1 Corinthians 5:1-8; 2 Corinthians 12:20-21

Galatians
Galatians 1:6; Galatians 3:1; Galatians 4:9-11; Galatians 5:6-7

Hymenaeus and Alexander
1 Timothy 1:19-20

Phygellus and Hermogenes
2 Timothy 1:15

Demas
2 Timothy 4:10

Churches of Asia
1 Timothy 5:15; Revelation 2:4; Revelation 2:14-15; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 3:2-3; Revelation 3:15-18

Promises to

Promises to
Leviticus 26:40-42; Deuteronomy 4:29-30; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Deuteronomy 32:26; Deuteronomy 32:28-29; 1 Kings 8:33-53; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Job 22:23-30; Psalms 17:5; Psalms 56:13; Psalms 81:13-14; Isaiah 42:3; Isaiah 57:18-19; Jeremiah 3:4-7; Jeremiah 3:12-22; Jeremiah 4:1-2; Jeremiah 4:14; Jeremiah 6:16; Hosea 14:4; Zech 10:6; Malachi 3:7; Matthew 23:37; Revelation 3:8; Revelation 3:15-21
Penitence; Penitent; Seekers

Return of

General references
Psalms 80:3-7; Psalms 80:14-19; Isaiah 17:7; Isaiah 29:24; Isaiah 31:6-7; Jeremiah 50:4-6; Hosea 3:5; Hosea 6:1-3

Instances of:

Jews
Ezra 6:16-21; Ezra 15:10

David
Ezra 19:51

Jonah
Ezra 32:2

Peter
Matthew 26:75; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:62

Thomas
John 20:27-29

Backsliding of Israel

General references
Exodus 17:7; Deuteronomy 4:25-31; Deuteronomy 31:16-30; Deuteronomy 32:5-6; Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 32:18; Numbers 14:43; Judges 2:12; Judges 10:12-14; 2 Chronicles 24:20; 2 Kings 18:1; 2 Kings 18:12; 2 Chronicles 13:11; 2 Chronicles 27:2; 2 Chronicles 29:6; 2 Chronicles 29:8; Ezra 9:10; Ezra 9:13-14; Nehemiah 9:26; Psalms 78:10-11; Psalms 78:40-43; Psalms 78:56-64; Psalms 106:13-14; Isaiah 1:4-7; Isaiah 1:21-22; Isaiah 50:1; Isaiah 2:6; Isaiah 5:12-30; Isaiah 9:13-21; Isaiah 17:10-11; Isaiah 24:5-6; Isaiah 30:9; Isaiah 30:15; Isaiah 31:6; Isaiah 43:22; Isaiah 43:24; Isaiah 51:17-20; Isaiah 63:17; Isaiah 65:2-3; Jeremiah 2:5; Jeremiah 2:11-13; Jeremiah 2:17; Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 2:21; Jeremiah 2:27; Jeremiah 2:31-32; Jeremiah 3:1-25; Jeremiah 5:1-31; Jeremiah 11:9-17; Jeremiah 6:30; Ezekiel 22:18; Jeremiah 7:12-34; Jeremiah 8:1-22; Jeremiah 10:17-22; Jeremiah 12:7; Jeremiah 13:24-25; Jeremiah 14:7; Jeremiah 14:10; Jeremiah 15:1-14; Jeremiah 18:13-15; Jeremiah 19:1-15; Jeremiah 32:30-31; Jeremiah 50:6; Ezekiel 2:3-8; Ezekiel 5:1-17; Ezekiel 11:1-21; Ezekiel 16:43; Hosea 1:1-9; Hosea 4:6; Hosea 4:10; Hosea 4:16; Hosea 5:1-15; Hosea 6:4-11; Hosea 8:14; Hosea 9:1-17; Hosea 13:16; Hosea 11:2; Hosea 11:7; Hosea 14:1; Amos 2:4; Zephaniah 1:6; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 3:7; Hebrews 3:16-18

Parable of the vine
Ezekiel 15:1-8

Parables of an unfaithful wife
Ezekiel 26:16; Ezekiel 26:23; Ezekiel 28:2

Instances of Israel's backsliding:

At Meribah
Exodus 17:1-7

When Aaron made the golden calf
Exodus 2:32

After Joshua's death
Jude 1:2

During Asa's reign
Jude 14:15

During Hezekiah's reign
2 Chronicles 30:2-12

BACKSLI'DING, noun The act of apostatizing from faith or practice; a falling insensibly from religion into sin or idolatry. Jer. v.6.

BACK'STAFF, noun [back and staff, so called from its being used with the observer's back toward the sun.]

A quadrant; an instrument for taking the sun's altitude at sea; called also, from its inventor, Davis's quadrant.

BACK'STAIRS, noun [back and stairs.]

Stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs; and figuratively, a private or indirect way.

BACK'STAYS, noun [back and stay.]

Long ropes or stays extending from the top-mast heads to both sides of a ship, to assist the shrouds in supporting the mast, when strained by a weight of sail, and prevent it from giving way and falling overboard.

BACK'SWORD,noun [back and sword.]

A sword with one sharp edge. In England, a stick with a basket handle used in rustic amusements.

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BACK'WARD

BACK'WARDLY, adverb Unwillingly; reluctantly; adversely; perversely.

BACK'WARDNESS, noun Unwillingness; reluctance, dilatoriness, or dullness in action.

2. A state of being behind in progress; slowness; tardiness; as the backwardness of the spring.

BACK'WARDS, adverb [back and ward. See Ward.] With the back in advance; as, to move backward.

2. Toward the back; as, to throw the arms backward; to move backwards and forwards.

3. On the back, or with the back downwards; as, to fall backward.

4. Toward past times or events; as to look backward on the history of man.

5. By way of reflection; reflexively.

6. From a better to a worse state; as, public affairs go backward.

7. In time past; as, let us look some ages backward.

8. Perversely; from a wrong end.

I never yet saw man but she would spell him backward.

9. Towards the beginning; in an order contrary to the natural order; as, to read backward.

10. In a scriptural sense, to go or turn backward, is to rebel, apostatize, or relapse into sin, or idolatry. Isaiah 1:1.

11. Contrarily; in a contrary manner.

To be driven or turned backward, is to be defeated, or disappointed. Ps.xl.turn judgment backward, is to pervert justice and laws. Is.lix.

BACK'WARD, adjective Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating. For wiser brutes are backward to be slaves.

2. Slow; sluggish; dilatory. The mind is backward to undergo the fatigue of weighing every argument.

3. Dull; not quick of apprehension; behind in progress; as a backward learner.

4. Late; behind in time; coming after something else, or after the usual time; as backward fruits; the season is backward.

BACK'WARD, noun The things or state behind or past.

In the dark backward or abysm of time. [Not proper, nor in use.]

BACK'WORM, noun [back and worm.] A small worm, in a thin skin, in the reins of a hawk. [See Filanders.]