### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gav**, represented by `{{H1458}}`, is a term for the **back**. Though it appears only **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in scripture, its usage is highly specific and carries significant weight, consistently symbolizing a deliberate act of rejection and contempt.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1458}}` is exclusively used in the context of willfully turning away from God or His law. The phrase "cast... behind thy back" serves as a powerful metaphor for utter dismissal. This is seen when God rebukes Jeroboam for idolatry, saying, "thou hast gone and made thee other gods... and hast cast me behind thy **back**" [[1 Kings 14:9]]. Similarly, in a prayer of confession, the Israelites are described as having been disobedient and rebellious, having "cast thy law behind their **backs**" [[Nehemiah 9:26]]. The prophet Ezekiel also uses this imagery, linking the act to forgetting God and facing the resulting judgment [[Ezekiel 23:35]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the gravity of the action associated with `{{H1458}}`:
* `{{H7993}}` **shâlak** (to throw out, down or away): This is the verb used in every instance with **gav**, describing the forceful and final action of rejection. It signifies a decisive choice to discard something, whether it is God Himself or His law [[1 Kings 14:9]].
* `{{H4784}}` **mârâh** (to rebel): This word captures the defiant attitude that leads to casting God's law aside. It is used in direct parallel in Nehemiah, where the people "were disobedient `{{H4784}}`... and cast thy law behind their backs" [[Nehemiah 9:26]].
* `{{H7911}}` **shâkach** (to forget): This describes the inner state that results in the outward act of rejection. God explicitly links this to Israel's unfaithfulness, stating, "Because thou hast forgotten `{{H7911}}` me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness" [[Ezekiel 23:35]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1458}}` is concentrated in its depiction of sin as an act of deliberate dismissal.
* **Willful Rejection:** The act of casting something behind the back is a conscious choice. It portrays sin not as a mere mistake but as an intentional turning away from God's presence and authority, as seen when Jeroboam made molten images to provoke God to anger [[1 Kings 14:9]].
* **Contempt for Divine Law:** To cast God's law `{{H8451}}` behind the back is to treat it as worthless. This represents a complete rejection of God's covenant and commandments, an act of rebellion that was coupled with slaying His prophets [[Nehemiah 9:26]].
* **The Consequence of Apostasy:** The imagery is tied directly to judgment. Forgetting God and casting Him aside results in bearing the consequences of one's own sin, described as "lewdness" and "whoredoms" [[Ezekiel 23:35]], symbolizing spiritual adultery.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1458}}` is far more than an anatomical term. In its few biblical uses, it functions as a potent symbol of the highest form of contempt for God. The act of "casting behind the back" illustrates a complete and willful rejection of a relationship with God, a dismissal of His law, and an embrace of rebellion that ultimately leads to judgment.
TRV