Behind His Back

The phrase “behind someone’s back” means that something is done or said secretly, without the person’s knowledge or consent.
Of course, a person cannot do anything behind God’s back. Everything is bare and exposed before him.

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)

But in the following verses, it is God who “throws” a thing or person “behind his back.” Symbolically, this means that something is removed from God’s “field of vision”. This makes it clear that God no longer thinks about this thing or person, no longer turns to it or remembers it.

This is what we have done – so God says, “You have thrown Me behind your back” (Ezekiel 23:35).

Then there is God’s reaction in judgment when people do not repent: “I will forsake them; I will look at them with My back on the day of their calamity” (Jeremiah 18:17).

Finally, it is God’s grace when people confess their guilt and repent: “You have cast all my sins behind Your back” (Isaiah 38:17).