Jeremiah 35 6

Jeremiah 35:6 kjv

But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:

Jeremiah 35:6 nkjv

But they said, "We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, 'You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever.

Jeremiah 35:6 niv

But they replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab gave us this command: 'Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine.

Jeremiah 35:6 esv

But they answered, "We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, 'You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever.

Jeremiah 35:6 nlt

but they refused. "No," they said, "we don't drink wine, because our ancestor Jehonadab son of Recab gave us this command: 'You and your descendants must never drink wine.

Jeremiah 35 verses

Jeremiah 35 6 meaning

Jeremiah 35:6 captures the unwavering resolve of the Rechabites as they explicitly decline Jeremiah's offer of wine. Their refusal is not arbitrary but rooted deeply in an ancient command given by their ancestor, Jonadab son of Rechab. This verse highlights their steadfast obedience to their family tradition, which prohibited them and their descendants from drinking wine, living in permanent houses, sowing fields, or planting vineyards, effectively binding them to a nomadic, simple way of life perpetually.

Jeremiah 35 6 Context

Jeremiah chapter 35 recounts a unique prophetic object lesson during the turbulent reign of King Jehoiakim in Judah. God explicitly instructs Jeremiah to bring the family of the Rechabites into a chamber in the Temple complex, offer them wine, and observe their response. The nation of Judah was steeped in disobedience, idolatry, and covenant breaking, despite repeated warnings from God's prophets. The historical background places this event on the cusp of the Babylonian invasion, highlighting the urgency of Judah's spiritual state. The Rechabites, descendants of Jonadab (from 2 Kings 10:15-16), were a distinct nomadic clan, part of the Kenite people, who had maintained their ancestor's specific rules for centuries. Their presence in Jerusalem was likely due to the invading Chaldean armies that made nomadic life outside the city walls dangerous. Jeremiah 35:6 is their resolute reply, demonstrating their exemplary and steadfast adherence to an ancient family decree, which stands in stark contrast to Judah's consistent rebellion against the divine commands of the Lord.

Jeremiah 35 6 Word analysis

• But they said: Hebrew: וַיֹּאמְרוּ (Wayyomeru). This signals a direct and unified response. It implies conviction, not hesitation. The unanimity reinforces their collective commitment.
• “We will drink no wine: Hebrew: לֹא נִשְׁתֶּה־יָ֑יִן (Lo nish.teh yayin). The strong negation "Lo" emphasizes a definite refusal. "Yayin" (wine) was a common beverage and a symbol of celebration, but also prone to misuse and debauchery in biblical wisdom literature. For the Rechabites, abstaining was a central identifier of their disciplined lifestyle.
• for Jonadab: Hebrew: כִּי יוֹנָדָב֙ (Ki Yonadav). "Ki" introduces the reason for their refusal. Jonadab (meaning "The Lord is generous/noble") was their revered ancestor who lived around 250-300 years prior, allied with Jehu's reforms (2 Kgs 10:15-16). His zealous adherence to YHWH made his command especially weighty.
• the son of Rechab: Hebrew: בֶּן־רֵכָ֜ב (Ben Rekhav). This highlights their lineage and identity. Rechab (possibly meaning "charioteer") established the familial line known for its distinct lifestyle. Their roots as Kenites (1 Chr 2:55) connect them to a semi-nomadic group with a long history alongside Israel.
• our father: Hebrew: אָבִ֧ינוּ (Avinu). Here, "father" refers to their founding ancestor. It signifies respect, authority, and the foundational role Jonadab played in shaping their collective identity and ethical code, treated with the reverence usually reserved for God in relation to Israel.
• commanded us, saying: Hebrew: צִוָּ֙נוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר (Tsiwanu leʼmor). "Tsiwanu" (commanded) conveys a forceful, non-negotiable directive. This wasn't a suggestion but a binding ordinance. "Saying" introduces the direct quotation of the command itself.
• ‘You shall not drink wine: The exact reiteration of the core prohibition underscores its importance. It's a precise rule, deeply ingrained in their oral tradition and communal practice.
• you nor your sons: Hebrew: אַתֶּם וּבְנֵיכֶ֑ם (At.tem uvnechem). This clause explicitly extends the command across generations. It demonstrates the enduring, perpetual nature of Jonadab's mandate, intended to shape their lineage indefinitely.
• forever: Hebrew: לְעוֹלָֽם (Le-ʿolam). This crucial word means "for all time," "everlastingly," or "perpetually." It seals the permanence and unconditionality of the command. The Rechabites' understanding was that this was a vow for their entire future.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But they said, 'We will drink no wine'": This opening declares an immediate and unified rejection. It sets the Rechabites apart by their specific dietary restriction, indicating a strong communal identity defined by obedience to this singular rule. Their "no" is resolute.
• "for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us": This phrase clarifies the source and authority of their obedience. It is an inherited, ancestral law, honored not merely as tradition but as a binding command from a revered progenitor, emphasizing family legacy and loyalty.
• "'You shall not drink wine, you nor your sons, forever'": This is the core mandate quoted. It outlines the specific prohibition ("not drink wine") and highlights its enduring, multi-generational applicability ("you nor your sons, forever"). This perpetual command distinguishes their lifestyle and illustrates profound long-term fidelity.

Jeremiah 35 6 Bonus section

• The full extent of Jonadab's command included not only abstinence from wine but also living in tents (eschewing settled, comfortable homes), and not sowing fields or planting vineyards. This emphasized a detachment from agriculture and fixed habitation, preventing an over-reliance on the land or material possessions.
• The Rechabites were likely a subgroup of the Kenites, who had a historical association with Israel, sometimes depicted in a positive light (Judges 4:11, 1 Sam 15:6). This connection emphasizes their long-standing, unique identity.
• God used the Rechabites' steadfast fidelity to expose Judah's egregious rebellion, making their obedience a sharp prophetic indictment. The human command was preserved and followed; the divine command was disregarded and broken by God's chosen people.
• The Lord's blessing on the Rechabites in Jeremiah 35:18-19, promising they would "never lack a man to stand before me," is a divine affirmation of their integrity and a significant reward for their loyalty to the established family command.

Jeremiah 35 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 35:6 stands as the lynchpin of God's illustrative parable to Judah. The Rechabites, when tested, offer an unambiguous refusal based purely on their unwavering allegiance to their ancestor's decree, maintained faithfully over centuries. Their response, a direct quotation of Jonadab's command to abstain from wine, epitomizes consistency and self-discipline. This seemingly simple act of denying a drink becomes a profound spiritual lesson. If a human command can evoke such staunch, intergenerational obedience, how much more should the divine commands of the omnipotent God of Israel compel His own people? Their commitment highlights the sacredness of a covenant-like oath, which for them was tied to a humble, detached, nomadic life. Their distinctiveness in their cultural setting and refusal of indulgence provides a visual sermon about loyalty, fidelity, and maintaining boundaries—qualities strikingly absent in Judah's relationship with YHWH. Their "forever" promise echoes the enduring nature of God's covenant with Israel, a covenant that Israel themselves failed to uphold.