As the part of the body used for bearing loads it is used both literally and metaphorically.
The human back used for carrying
Jesus Christ carried his cross on his back
John 19:17 See also Matthew 27:32 parallels Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26 The shape of the cross necessitated it being carried across the shoulders and back. It appears that Jesus Christ started to carry his own cross but Simon of Cyrene took over as Christ weakened.
Carrying His own cross, He went out to The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.
Weapons carried on the back
Animals carry people and goods on their backs
Isaiah 30:6 See also Exodus 15:1, Exodus 15:21; 2 Samuel 13:29, 2 Samuel 16:1–2, 2 Samuel 18:9, 2 Samuel 19:26; 2 Kings 18:23 parallel Isaiah 36:8; Isaiah 21:7, Isaiah 30:16; Jeremiah 6:23; Haggai 2:22; Revelation 9:17
This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.
Riding on the backs of animals may indicate royalty or privilege
Zechariah 9:9 See also 1 Kings 1:33, 1 Kings 1:38, 1 Kings 1:44JDG 1 Kings 5:10, Judges 10:4, Judges 12:14REV Judges 6:1–8, Revelation 19:11–21
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Jesus Christ mounted a donkey for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:7–9 parallels Mark 11:7–11, Luke 19:35–38 See also John 12:13–15
They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
Carrying a burden on the back represents bearing suffering and trials
Psalm 66:11 See also Psalm 38:4; Ecclesiastes 1:13, Ecclesiastes 3:10; Matthew 11:28–30
You led us into the net; You laid burdens on our backs.
Injury to the back
Judges 3:22; 2 Samuel 2:23; Job 20:24–25
Pain in the back causing anguish
The back endures punishment
Bending of the back indicates loss of physical strength
Psalm 69:23 See also Romans 11:10
May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
Beating on the back is a punishment
Proverbs 10:13, Proverbs 14:3, Proverbs 19:29, Proverbs 26:3
Beating on the back may be an unjust punishment for God's servants
Isaiah 50:6 See also Isaiah 53:4–5; Matthew 21:35 parallels Mark 12:3, Luke 20:11 The servants in the parable represent the OT prophets.
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
Jesus Christ endured flogging
Matthew 27:26 parallels Mark 15:15, John 19:1 Jesus Christ becomes the suffering servant of Isaiah's prophecies.
So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
The apostles endured flogging
2 Corinthians 11:23–25 See also Acts 5:40, Acts 16:22–23, Acts 16:37, Acts 21:32; 2 Corinthians 6:5, 2 Corinthians 6:9
Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
Jesus Christ's disciples should expect similar flogging
Matthew 10:17 See also Matthew 23:34; Mark 13:9
But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
Whipping on the back used figuratively in a warning
Walking over the back used figuratively to indicate defeat
Turning one's back means desertion
God makes the enemies of his people flee
Exodus 23:27 See also 2 Samuel 22:41 parallel Psalm 18:40; Psalm 21:12
I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
Israel flees from her enemies
This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.
God's people desert him
Nehemiah 9:29 “To turn one's back”, in these verses and the following verses, also implies a lack of respect and reverence for God and his ways. See also 2 Chronicles 29:6; Isaiah 1:4, Isaiah 59:12–13; Jeremiah 2:27, Jeremiah 32:33–34; Ezekiel 8:16
You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.
God's people desert his instruction
Thrusting behind one's back means discarding
Isaiah 38:17 God forgives sins, putting them out of sight; Ezekiel 23:35 See also 1 Kings 14:9; Nehemiah 9:26
Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and have cast Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your indecency and prostitution.’”
God turns his back in his grace
Exodus 33:22–23 To see God's face would bring death.
and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”
God turns his back against disobedient people
I will scatter them before the enemy like the east wind. I will show them My back and not My face in the day of their calamity.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.