Jeremiah 35 11

Jeremiah 35:11 kjv

But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 35:11 nkjv

But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, 'Come, let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Syrians.' So we dwell at Jerusalem."

Jeremiah 35:11 niv

But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, 'Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.' So we have remained in Jerusalem."

Jeremiah 35:11 esv

But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, 'Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of the Syrians.' So we are living in Jerusalem."

Jeremiah 35:11 nlt

But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked this country, we were afraid of the Babylonian and Syrian armies. So we decided to move to Jerusalem. That is why we are here."

Jeremiah 35 verses

Jeremiah 35 11 Meaning

Jeremiah 35:11 states that the Rechabites were obedient to the command of their ancestor Jonadab, son of Rechab, and did not drink wine, sow seeds, plant vineyards, or possess houses, but lived in tents. This verse highlights their faithfulness to a tradition passed down through generations, contrasting with the disobedience of Judah.

Jeremiah 35 11 Context

In the time of Jeremiah, Judah was facing imminent Babylonian invasion due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. God sent Jeremiah to test the loyalty of Judah by bringing the Rechabites into the temple court and offering them wine. The Rechabites, a nomadic group known for their strict adherence to the ancestral commands of Jonadab son of Rechab, refused to drink wine. Jonadab had instructed his descendants to abstain from wine, not sow seeds, not plant vineyards, and to live in tents, to separate themselves from the corrupting influences of settled, Canaanite life and to remember their nomadic heritage. Their faithfulness served as a living object lesson to the people of Judah, highlighting their own disobedience to God's commands, despite the promises and provisions God had given them.

Jeremiah 35 11 Word Analysis

• And (וְ – ve): A conjunction connecting clauses, emphasizing the flow of events.

• so (כֵּן – ken): In this manner, thus, so.

• came (בָּאוּ – ba'u): They came, an action word.

• and (וְ – ve): Conjunction.

• went up (עָלוּ – alu): They went up, signifying ascent.

• and (וְ – ve): Conjunction.

• from (מִן – min): Indicates origin or source.

• the (הַ – ha): The definite article.

• son (בֶּן – ben): Son.

• of (בְּנֵי – b'nei): Sons of.

• Rechab (רֵכָב – Rkav): Rechab, the ancestral father.

• to (אֶל – el): To, towards.

• me (אֹתִי – oti): Me.

• unto (אֶל – el): To, towards.

• the (הַ – ha): The definite article.

• house (בֵּית – beit): House.

• of (בֵּית – beit): Of.

• the (הַ – ha): The definite article.

• LORD (יְהוָה – YHWH): The covenant name of God.

• in (בְּ – v’): In, by, with.

• the (בְּ – v’): The definite article.

• winehouses (בָּתֵּי הַיַּיִן – battei hayayin): Houses of wine; specifically, places where wine is kept or sold, possibly taverns or wine cellars, implying temptation and indulgence.

• of (בְּ – v’): Of.

• the (הַ – ha): The definite article.

• inhabitants (יוֹשְׁבֵי – yoshvei): Inhabitants.

• of (יוֹשְׁבֵי – yoshvei): Of.

• Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלִַם – Yerushalayim): Jerusalem.

• and (וְ – ve): Conjunction.

• ye (אַתֶּם – atem): You (plural).

• fill (מִלְאוּ – mil'u): Fill (imperative).

• you (אֶתְכֶם – etchem): You (object).

• therein (שָׁמָּה – shamah): There.

• Group Analysis: The sentence structure emphasizes a chain of command and a refusal based on that command. "And so came, and went up, and from the son of Rechab unto me unto the house of the LORD in the winehouses of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and ye fill you therein." This describes the Rechabites being brought to a specific location (wine cellars in Jerusalem, inside the temple precincts for the purpose of the test), highlighting the contrast between their commitment and the surrounding decadence. The parallel is drawn when God's challenge is posed: "and ye fill you therein."

Jeremiah 35 11 Bonus Section

The Rechabites, by their lifestyle, embody principles of self-denial and separation from worldly corruptions, which resonate with later New Testament calls for believers to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:15-16). Their commitment, passed down generationally, also serves as an ancient model for discipleship, where teaching and heritage are intentionally passed from one generation to the next, fostering perseverance in the faith. Their abstaining from wine is not a ritualistic requirement but a cultural and personal commitment, showing that faith can be lived out through various disciplines that align with God's overarching principles, even if not explicitly mandated for all.

Jeremiah 35 11 Commentary

The Rechabites' steadfast obedience to their ancestral command to abstain from wine and live in tents is presented as a testament to faithfulness. This obedience is particularly striking because it is maintained even when brought into the very "winehouses" of Jerusalem, places associated with indulgence and likely the very things God condemned in Judah. Their stance highlights a proactive separation from potentially compromising environments. This voluntary adherence to a lesser command, stemming from their family's vow, is used by God to confront Judah's willful disobedience to His own direct commandments. It underscores that true faith isn't just about abstaining from overt sin but also about actively honoring and remembering the foundational instructions given by righteous ancestors, which in turn reflects a deeper allegiance to the divine.