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 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 35:2 | "Go to the Rechabites and invite them to the temple of the LORD, take them into one of the rooms and offer them wine to drink." | Conditional command to test obedience |
| Jer 35:3 | "So I brought Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons and the whole clan of the Rechabites." | Obedience to the command |
| Jer 35:7 | "You must not build houses, or sow seed, or plant vineyards and fields. Do not own any of these. Live in tents, so that you may live long in the land where you are nomads." | The foundational command of Jonadab |
| Jer 35:10 | "We always obey the command of Jonadab our ancestor; we never drink wine, nor do we build houses for ourselves to live in, nor do we have vineyards or fields or crops." | Their consistent adherence |
| Jer 35:14 | "The command of Jonadab son of Rechab, which he gave to his sons not to drink wine, has been obeyed. To this day they do not drink wine, but they obey their ancestor's command. Yet I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not obeyed me." | Stark contrast with Judah's disobedience |
| Jer 35:16 | "For the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab have obeyed the command of their ancestor, which he gave them, but this people has not obeyed me." | Affirmation of the Rechabites' faithfulness |
| Jer 18:11 | "So now tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'" | God's call to repentance |
| Ezek 18:2 | "'What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: "The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge"?' | Addressing generational sin and responsibility |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." | Lessons from past disobedience |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "But Samuel said, 'Does the LORD as greatly delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice and to listen than the fat of rams.'" | The importance of obedience |
| Deut 28:1-14 | Blessings for obedience | God's promise for obedience |
| Deut 28:15-68 | Curses for disobedience | Consequences of disobedience |
| Ps 51:17 | "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." | True worship includes a contrite heart |
| Prov 23:20-21 | "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for the drunkard and the glutton come to poverty, and drunkenness clothes them with rags." | Warning against overindulgence |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine." | Honouring God with resources |
| Lev 26:13 | "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with your heads held high." | Freedom from bondage as a blessing of obedience |
| Heb 13:7 | "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." | Imitating faith and godly living |
| 2 Tim 1:13 | "Keep as your pattern the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." | Holding to sound teaching |
| Ps 78:7 | "so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;" | The purpose of remembering God's works |
| Neh 12:43 | "And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice greatly. Even the women and children rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away." | Joy associated with God's faithfulness and provision |
Jeremiah 35 verses
Jeremiah 35 6 Meaning
This verse highlights the Rechabites' absolute obedience to Jonadab's command not to drink wine, contrasting sharply with Israel's disobedience. It underscores a deep commitment to a specific way of life established by their ancestor.
Jeremiah 35 6 Context
In Jeremiah chapter 35, the prophet is commanded by God to test the loyalty and obedience of the Rechabites, a nomadic Kenite clan, by offering them wine. This takes place during a period when Judah, particularly Jerusalem, is deeply engrossed in idolatry and disobedience to God. The Rechabites, known for their strict adherence to the vows made by their ancestor Jonadab, faithfully refused the wine, reiterating their commitment to living in tents and abstaining from wine as commanded. This event serves as a powerful indictment of Judah's persistent rebellion against God, highlighting the stark contrast between the faithful obedience of a Gentile clan and the faithless disobedience of God's chosen people.
Jeremiah 35 6 Word Analysis
- Jeremiah (Yirməyāhû) - "Yahweh will exalt" or "Yahweh casts forth." The prophet's name itself signifies God's ongoing interaction and judgment.
- yehudāh - Judah. Refers to the southern kingdom of Israel.
- lĕ'ēmôw - "to his wine." Highlights the specific prohibition.
- kol-děğ̱ǝlô - "all his descendants." Emphasizes the generational nature of the covenant.
- qōl-qōl - "the voice of the voice." Denotes the direct instruction and command of their ancestor.
- bînōw - "understand" or "discern." The people of Judah failed to discern God's word.
- hêṭē'û - "you have sinned." A direct accusation of transgression.
- wǝkĕlêḵǝm - "and your actions/deeds." Links spiritual disobedience to behavioral output.
- zědōnîm - "presumptuously" or "arrogantly." Describes the willful nature of their sin.
- laṭṭôḥû - "they have drawn out." Imagery of actively seeking and indulging in wine.
- sā‘ĕrû - "they have been unaccustomed to." Reinforces the Rechabites' strict abstention.
Words/Groups Analysis:
- "the Rechabites": Identified by their ancestor Jonadab, known for his ascetic lifestyle and opposition to Baal worship. Their lineage and communal commitment are key to their distinctiveness.
- "Go to the house of the Rechabites": God initiates the encounter, setting up a divine test.
- "offer them wine to drink": A deliberate contrast between what God asked Israel to do and what He asked Jeremiah to offer the Rechabites.
- "we do not drink wine": The core principle of their covenant with Jonadab, repeated as the basis of their refusal.
- "for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us": Emphasizes ancestral authority and its enduring influence.
- "Saying, You shall not drink wine, you nor your sons forever": The absolute and perpetual nature of Jonadab's command, highlighting the contrast with Israel's temporary compliance.
Jeremiah 35 6 Bonus Section
The Rechabites were not Israelites by blood but were a Gentile people (Kenites). Their connection to Israel stemmed from an alliance. Jonadab's encouragement of an ascetic, abstinent lifestyle was a direct protest against the apostasy and syncretism prevalent in Israel, especially the Baal cult which often involved wine in its fertility rites. Their obedience served as a mirror, reflecting Israel's own spiritual corruption and disobedience to the Mosaic Law and the prophets. Some interpretations suggest that their perpetual abstention from wine was a prophetic symbol of a purer, more righteous way of living, distinct from the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations and Israel's compromised state.
Jeremiah 35 6 Commentary
Jeremiah 35:6 presents a foundational ethical directive from Jonadab son of Rechab to his descendants. This command, to abstain from wine, was part of a broader injunction to live a nomadic life in tents, eschewing the settled agricultural lifestyle which was often associated with Canaanite idolatry and its corrupting influences. The Rechabites' strict adherence to this command for generations, as demonstrated when Jeremiah offered them wine in God's temple, stands as a powerful testament to the enduring impact of ancestral instruction and a disciplined life. This contrasts starkly with the people of Judah, who, despite being God's chosen people, consistently ignored His prophets and commands. The Rechabites’ loyalty to Jonadab's word is presented as a rebuke to Judah's faithlessness towards God. Theologians often point to this chapter as an example of God honoring faithfulness, even in those outside the covenant, by contrast with the discipline that awaited the disobedient. It also serves as an encouragement for believers to be steadfast in their commitments and convictions, demonstrating the fruit of obedience over transient pleasures.