Forsaking
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Forsaking, in biblical terms, refers to the act of abandoning, deserting, or renouncing someone or something. This concept is significant in Scripture, as it often pertains to the relationship between God and His people, as well as interpersonal relationships among individuals. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on the consequences and implications of forsaking.

Forsaking God

One of the most serious forms of forsaking mentioned in the Bible is the abandonment of God by His people. This is often depicted as a turning away from God's commandments and pursuing other gods or worldly desires. In the Old Testament, the Israelites are frequently admonished for forsaking the LORD and turning to idolatry. For instance, in Jeremiah 2:13 , God laments, "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

The consequences of forsaking God are severe, often leading to divine judgment and calamity. In Deuteronomy 31:16-17 , God warns Moses, "And the LORD said to Moses, 'You are about to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I have made with them. On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will forsake them; I will hide My face from them, and they will be consumed. Many troubles and disasters will befall them, so that they will say on that day, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’"

God's Promise Not to Forsake

Despite the warnings and consequences of forsaking, the Bible also emphasizes God's faithfulness and His promise not to forsake those who are His. In Hebrews 13:5 , believers are encouraged with the assurance, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'" This promise is a source of comfort and strength, reminding believers of God's unwavering presence and support.

Forsaking Sin and Worldly Desires

The New Testament calls believers to forsake sin and the desires of the flesh in order to follow Christ fully. In Luke 14:33 , Jesus teaches, "In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple." This forsaking is not merely an abandonment of material possessions but a call to prioritize the kingdom of God above all else.

Interpersonal Forsaking

Forsaking can also occur in human relationships, such as in the context of marriage or friendship. The Bible addresses the pain and betrayal associated with such forsaking. In Malachi 2:14-16 , God speaks against the treachery of forsaking one's spouse, emphasizing the sanctity and covenant of marriage: "Yet you ask, 'For what reason?' Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant."

Conclusion

The concept of forsaking in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faithfulness, both to God and to one another. It underscores the need for commitment and the consequences of turning away from divine and human relationships. Through the lens of Scripture, believers are called to remain steadfast in their devotion to God and to uphold the bonds of love and fidelity in their relationships with others.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Forsake.
Greek
647. apostasion -- a forsaking, spec. (bill of) divorce
... 646, 647. apostasion. 648 . a forsaking, spec. (bill of ... divorce. Word
Origin from aphistemi Definition a forsaking, spec. (bill ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/647.htm - 6k

2641. kataleipo -- to leave, leave behind
... Word Origin from kata and leipo Definition to leave, leave behind NASB Word Usage
forsaking (1), kept (1), leave (4), leaves behind (1), leaving (3), leaving ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2641.htm - 7k

1459. egkataleipo -- to leave behind, ie (in a good sense) let ...
... good sense) let remain over or (in a bad sense) desert NASB Word Usage abandon
(1), abandoned (1), deserted (2), forsake (1), forsaken (3), forsaking (1), left ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1459.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew
5805. azubah -- forsakenness, desolation
... forsaking. Feminine passive participle of azab; desertion (of inhabitants) -- forsaking.
see HEBREW azab. 5804b, 5805. azubah. 5806 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5805.htm - 6k

5800a. azab -- to leave, forsake, loose
... abandon (3), abandoned (11), abandons (1), commits (1), deserted (1), failed (1),
fails (1), forsake (48), forsaken (56), forsakes (2), forsaking (1), forsook ...
/hebrew/5800a.htm - 6k

4480. min -- from
... devoid (2), dictated* (1), distance* (3), doing* (2), due (4), either (2), ever
(1), exclusive (1), facing (2), far* (2), forever* (3), forsaking* (2), gone (2 ...
/hebrew/4480.htm - 8k

310. achar -- the hind or following part
... 1), follow (11), follow* (16), followed (16), followed* (24), following (35), following
and followed (1), following* (5), follows* (3), forsaking* (1), later (1 ...
/hebrew/310.htm - 6k

7733. Shobeq -- one who signed Nehemiah's covenant
... Shobek. Active participle from a primitive root meaning to leave (compare shbaq);
forsaking; Shobek, an Israelite -- Shobek. see HEBREW shbaq. 7732, 7733. ...
/hebrew/7733.htm - 6k

5921. al -- upon, above, over
... despite (1), due (1), duty (1), east* (7), encouragingly* (2), engaged (1), even
(1), everywhere* (1), faces* (1), facing* (1), far (2), forsaking* (1), full ...
/hebrew/5921.htm - 8k

Library

Forsaking Jehovah
... FORSAKING JEHOVAH. 'Know ... in. Then"consider what this forsaking is-at bottom
aversion of will, or rather of the whole nature, from Him. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/forsaking jehovah.htm

Epiphany Forsaking all for the True Light.
... Epiphany Forsaking all for the True Light. III. Forsaking all for the True Light.
7,7,7,7,7,7. Wer im Herzen will erfahren. [66]Laurentius Laurenti.1700. ...
/.../epiphany forsaking all for the.htm

He, not Forsaking that Secular Course which his Parents had ...
... Book VI Chapter VIII He, not forsaking that secular course which his parents
had charmed him to pursue? He, not forsaking that ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter viii he not forsaking.htm

"Not Forsaking the Assembling of Yourselves Together. "
... Homily III. Chapter LXIX.""Not Forsaking the Assembling of Yourselves
Together.". "But if you love your brethren, take nothing ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter lxix not forsaking the assembling.htm

Of the Praise and Might of Charity: and of Forsaking the World ...
... THE FIRE OF LOVE. BOOK I CHAPTER XVIII OF THE PRAISE AND MIGHT OF CHARITY: AND
OF FORSAKING THE WORLD: AND OF THE WAY OF PENANCE TO BE TAKEN. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xviii of the praise.htm

The Meditation of the Lover in his Love: and the Forsaking of ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER V THE MEDITATION OF THE LOVER IN HIS LOVE: AND THE FORSAKING
OF FELLOWSHIP: AND HOW IN ORDER IT COMES TO THE FLAME OF LOVE. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter v the meditation of.htm

Why, in the Account of Terah's Emigration, on his Forsaking the ...
... Chapter 13."Why, in the Account of Terah's Emigration, on His Forsaking the Chaldeans
and Passing Over into Mesopotamia, No Mention is Made of His Son Nahor. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 13 why in the account.htm

Matt. xix. 27
... "For behold we have forsaken all," saith he, "and have followed Thee." For the
forsaking was done for the sake of following, and the following was rendered ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxiv matt xix 27.htm

Luke x. The Latter Part of the 25Th Verse.
... which cannot be avoided without forsaking them; to abhor that which is evil, Romans
12:9. to abstain from all appearance, or, as the Words signify, every sort ...
/.../sermon iv luke x the.htm

Hebrews x. 19-23
... Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but
exhorting [3156] one another and so much the more as ye see the day ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xix hebrews x 19-23.htm

Thesaurus
Forsaking (29 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Forsake. Multi-Version Concordance
Forsaking (29 Occurrences). Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking...
/f/forsaking.htm - 14k

Apostate (5 Occurrences)
... 24:11); temptation (Luke 8:13); worldliness (2 Timothy 4:4); defective knowledge
of Christ (1 John 2:19); moral lapse (Hebrews 6:4-6); forsaking worship and ...
/a/apostate.htm - 14k

Apostasy (6 Occurrences)
... 24:11); temptation (Luke 8:13); worldliness (2 Timothy 4:4); defective knowledge
of Christ (1 John 2:19); moral lapse (Hebrews 6:4-6); forsaking worship and ...
/a/apostasy.htm - 14k

Forsaketh (17 Occurrences)

/f/forsaketh.htm - 11k

Vent (8 Occurrences)
... hath turned back, and hath been insolent toward the holy covenant, and hath wrought,
and turned back, and he understandeth concerning those forsaking the holy ...
/v/vent.htm - 9k

Vilest (5 Occurrences)
... said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of
unfaithfulness; for the land commits great adultery, forsaking Yahweh." (See NIV). ...
/v/vilest.htm - 7k

Wrong-doing (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way
of Balaam the 'son' of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing; (ASV). ...
/w/wrong-doing.htm - 7k

Forsomuch (1 Occurrence)

/f/forsomuch.htm - 6k

Fornication (52 Occurrences)
... It frequently means a forsaking of God or a following after idols (Isaiah 1:2;
Jeremiah 2:20; Ezek. 16; Hosea 1:2; 2:1-5; Jeremiah 3:8, 9). ...
/f/fornication.htm - 24k

Forgetting (8 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 65:11 And ye 'are' those forsaking Jehovah, Who are forgetting My holy mountain,
Who are setting in array for Gad a table, And who are filling for Meni ...
/f/forgetting.htm - 8k

Resources
How should a Christian view the Mafia? | GotQuestions.org

Did God divorce Israel? | GotQuestions.org

What is spiritual adultery? | GotQuestions.org

Forsaking: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Forsaking (29 Occurrences)

Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

2 Peter 2:15
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;
(WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 28:20
The LORD will send upon thee cursing, discomfiture, and rebuke, in all that thou puttest thy hand unto to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the evil of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken Me.
(See NIV)

Judges 10:10
And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying: 'We have sinned against Thee, in that we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baalim.'
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 8:8
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
(See RSV NIV)

1 Kings 12:13
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him;
(See RSV)

1 Kings 18:18
And he saith, 'I have not troubled Israel, but thou and the house of thy father, in your forsaking the commands of Jehovah, and thou goest after the Baalim;
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 10:13
And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
(See RSV)

2 Chronicles 28:6
And Pekah son of Remaliah slayeth in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day (the whole 'are' sons of valour), because of their forsaking Jehovah, God of their fathers.
(YLT)

Ezra 8:22
for I was ashamed to ask from the king a force and horsemen to help us because of the enemy in the way, for we spake to the king, saying, 'The hand of our God 'is' upon all seeking Him for good, and His strength and His wrath 'is' upon all forsaking Him.'
(YLT)

Psalms 119:53
Horror hath seized me, Because of the wicked forsaking Thy law.
(YLT)

Proverbs 2:13
Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness,
(YLT)

Proverbs 2:17
Who is forsaking the guide of her youth, And the covenant of her God hath forgotten.
(YLT)

Proverbs 10:17
A traveller to life 'is' he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring.
(YLT)

Proverbs 15:10
Chastisement 'is' grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.
(YLT)

Proverbs 28:4
Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.
(YLT)

Proverbs 28:13
Whoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.
(YLT)

Isaiah 1:28
And the destruction of transgressors and sinners 'is' together, And those forsaking Jehovah are consumed.
(YLT)

Isaiah 6:12
And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 57:8
And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy symbol; for thou hast uncovered, and art gone up from Me, thou hast enlarged thy bed, and chosen thee of them whose bed thou lovedst, whose hand thou sawest.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 65:11
And ye 'are' those forsaking Jehovah, Who are forgetting My holy mountain, Who are setting in array for Gad a table, And who are filling for Meni a mixture.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 1:16
And I will utter My judgments against them touching all their wickedness; in that they have forsaken me, and have offered unto other gods, and worshipped the work of their own hands.
(See RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 2:17
Dost thou not do this to thyself? 'By' thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, At the time He is leading thee in the way?
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 2:19
Instruct thee doth thy wickedness, And thy backslidings reprove thee, Know and see that an evil and a bitter thing 'Is' thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, And My fear not being on thee, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah of Hosts.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 9:13
And Jehovah saith: Because of their forsaking My law that I set before them, And they have not hearkened to My voice nor walked in it,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 17:13
The hope of Israel 'is' Jehovah, All forsaking Thee are ashamed, And 'My apostates' in the earth are written, For they have forsaken Jehovah, A fountain of living waters.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 20:27
Therefore, speak unto the house of Israel, son of man, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Still in this have your fathers reviled Me, In their committing against Me a trespass.
(See NIV)

Hosea 1:2
When Yahweh spoke at first by Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness; for the land commits great adultery, forsaking Yahweh."
(WEB NAS RSV)

Hosea 9:1
Rejoice not, O Israel, be not joyful like the peoples, For thou hast gone a-whoring from thy God, Thou hast loved a gift near all floors of corn.
(See NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Forsaking

Forsaking God is Forsaking: His Commandments

Forsaking God is Forsaking: His Covenant

Forsaking God is Forsaking: His House

Forsaking God is Forsaking: The Right Way

Forsaking God: Ahab

Forsaking God: Amon

Forsaking God: Backsliders Guilty of

Forsaking God: Balaam

Forsaking God: Brings Confusion

Forsaking God: Brings Down his Wrath

Forsaking God: Children of Israel

Forsaking God: Curse Pronounced Upon

Forsaking God: Followed by Remorse

Forsaking God: Idolaters Guilty of

Forsaking God: Kingdom of Israel

Forsaking God: Kingdom of Judah

Forsaking God: Leads Men to Follow Their own Devices

Forsaking God: Many Disciples

Forsaking God: Phygellus

Forsaking God: Prosperity Tempts To

Forsaking God: Provokes God to Forsake Men

Forsaking God: Punishment of

Forsaking God: Resolve Against

Forsaking God: Saul

Forsaking God: Sin of, to be Confessed

Forsaking God: The Wicked Guilty of

Forsaking God: Trusting in Man Is

Forsaking God: Unreasonableness and Ingratitude of

Forsaking God: Warnings Against

Forsaking God: Wickedness of

Related Terms

Apostate (5 Occurrences)

Apostasy (6 Occurrences)

Forsaketh (17 Occurrences)

Vent (8 Occurrences)

Vilest (5 Occurrences)

Wrong-doing (4 Occurrences)

Forsomuch (1 Occurrence)

Fornication (52 Occurrences)

Forgetting (8 Occurrences)

Flagrant (3 Occurrences)

Traveller (9 Occurrences)

Eagerly (36 Occurrences)

Exhorting (13 Occurrences)

Erring (13 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy (1 Occurrence)

Dust (182 Occurrences)

Drawing (60 Occurrences)

Mixture (16 Occurrences)

Prospereth (12 Occurrences)

Bitter (203 Occurrences)

Beor (11 Occurrences)

Bitterness (37 Occurrences)

Backslide

Be'or (11 Occurrences)

Confessing (15 Occurrences)

Check (9 Occurrences)

Approaching (24 Occurrences)

Assembling (11 Occurrences)

Apostates (4 Occurrences)

Adulterous (12 Occurrences)

Seizes (16 Occurrences)

Securing (8 Occurrences)

Steps (113 Occurrences)

Slayeth (28 Occurrences)

Bent (107 Occurrences)

Filling (29 Occurrences)

Wrongdoing (122 Occurrences)

Hire (48 Occurrences)

Unfaithfulness (27 Occurrences)

Astray (116 Occurrences)

Chastisement (24 Occurrences)

Instruct (34 Occurrences)

Simon (75 Occurrences)

Forgotten (69 Occurrences)

Salvation (386 Occurrences)

Wages (52 Occurrences)

Road (155 Occurrences)

Lord's (548 Occurrences)

Wickedness (232 Occurrences)

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)

Custom (51 Occurrences)

Affirmation (335 Occurrences)

Balaam (62 Occurrences)

Rebuke (77 Occurrences)

Plead (64 Occurrences)

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)

Goest (79 Occurrences)

Loved (249 Occurrences)

Valour (66 Occurrences)

Nigh (243 Occurrences)

Array (63 Occurrences)

Gain (142 Occurrences)

Followed (201 Occurrences)

Setting (82 Occurrences)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

Seized (118 Occurrences)

Peter (181 Occurrences)

Hating (95 Occurrences)

Follow (267 Occurrences)

Day (17670 Occurrences)

Hosea (6 Occurrences)

Forsaketh
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