Jeremiah 35:7 kjv
Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.
Jeremiah 35:7 nkjv
You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.'
Jeremiah 35:7 niv
Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.'
Jeremiah 35:7 esv
You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.'
Jeremiah 35:7 nlt
And do not build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but always live in tents. If you follow these commands, you will live long, good lives in the land.'
Jeremiah 35 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 35:6 | "But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, Saying, Ye shall drink no wine, nor shall ye possess houses, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyards, nor have [any]: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents;" | Command of Jonadab for obedience. |
| Deut 23:20 | "Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury:" | Lending and financial integrity. |
| Prov 20:1 | "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." | Dangers of wine. |
| Prov 23:30 | "They that tarry long at wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." | Negative effects of alcohol. |
| Isa 5:11 | "Woe unto them that rise early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until the night, till wine inflame them!" | Warning against excessive drinking. |
| Luke 1:15 | "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." | Nazarite vow similar abstinence. |
| Num 6:2 | "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD;" | Nazarite vow principle. |
| Judges 4:4 | "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, judged Israel at that time." | Female leadership context. |
| 1 Sam 1:11 | "And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." | Vow for a child. |
| Lev 19:24 | "But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal." | Regulations on planting. |
| Ezek 22:9 | "In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness." | Societal corruption. |
| Jer 17:25 | "Then shall enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever." | Judah's persistence in sin. |
| Jer 7:15 | "And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole brood of Ephraim." | Punishment for disobedience. |
| Jer 35:18 | "And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the voice of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you;" | The reason for God's favor. |
| Ps 18:2 | "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." | God as refuge. |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," | Separation from the world. |
| Rev 18:4 | "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." | Separation from sinful cities. |
| Josh 24:15 | "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." | Family commitment to serve God. |
| Heb 11:13 | "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." | Faith of Abraham and patriarchs. |
| 1 Pet 2:11 | "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" | Abstinence as pilgrims. |
| Acts 4:32 | "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." | Communal living. |
Jeremiah 35 verses
Jeremiah 35 7 Meaning
Jeremiah 35:7 states, "And ye shall not drink wine: but that your wine they shall drink; and for yourselves ye shall not plant vineyards: for we will dwell in tents." This verse commands the sons of Jonadab, the Rechabites, not to drink wine and not to plant vineyards, for their dwelling place would be in tents. The prohibition against wine and vineyards serves as a specific outward expression of their deeper commitment to a nomadic, abstemious lifestyle. It is a covenantal obedience passed down through generations.
Jeremiah 35 7 Context
This verse is part of a narrative in Jeremiah chapter 35 where the prophet is commanded by God to test the loyalty and obedience of the Rechabites. The Rechabites were a non-Israelite group who had pledged themselves to a specific way of life through the oath of Jonadab, their ancestor. They abstained from wine, did not own houses or land, and lived in tents, embracing a nomadic, simple existence. In contrast, the people of Judah at this time were steeped in idolatry, disobedience, and a luxurious, settled lifestyle that had led to God's judgment. God uses the faithfulness of the Rechabites to highlight the deep apostasy of Israel. The command to continue their strict lifestyle serves as a principle of enduring faithfulness in the face of a declining spiritual nation.
Jeremiah 35 7 Word analysis
And ye shall not drink wine: The prohibition against wine is a core part of their ancestral vow, emphasizing a discipline and separation from the common pleasures that could lead to decadence or idolatry.
but that your wine they shall drink: This phrase underscores the Rechabites’ commitment not to partake of wine themselves, but any wine produced through their labor (even if they are not planting themselves, perhaps through shared resources or future progeny) is implicitly disallowed for their personal consumption.
and for yourselves ye shall not plant vineyards: This reiterates their avoidance of the cultivation and products of settled, agrarian life, which was contrary to their nomadic calling. It means no engagement in the farming of grapes for personal use or benefit.
for we will dwell in tents: This is the rationale behind their prohibitions. Dwelling in tents signifies a life of mobility, transience, and reliance on God rather than earthly possessions or comforts.
ye shall not drink wine: A direct prohibition, extending beyond just intoxication to a principle of separation.
your wine they shall drink: This implies their obedience is so strict that any 'wine' which might become theirs by some circumstance is to be treated similarly—not for their use. It also may suggest a willingness for others (strangers or even those within Judah's apostate society) to consume what they abstain from.
ye shall not plant vineyards: A prohibition against the means of producing wine, linking physical action to the chosen lifestyle.
we will dwell in tents: This states the positive affirmation of their identity and chosen dwelling, which necessitated the abstentions. It symbolizes dependence and a spiritual distinctiveness.
Jeremiah 35 7 Bonus section
The Rechabites' story is a testament to the enduring power of commitment and the faithfulness of God to those who honor their commitments, even those made outside the direct Mosaic covenant. Their unique lifestyle was a deliberate choice to remain separate from the settled, often corrupting, influences of Canaanite society. This parallels the call for believers to be in the world but not of the world, a concept echoed throughout Scripture. Their adherence to a stringent vow, passed down through generations, also foreshadows the New Covenant call for believers to live a life set apart, abstaining from practices that compromise their spiritual walk and reflecting a life centered on God rather than worldly comforts.
Jeremiah 35 7 Commentary
The Rechabites' obedience to Jonadab's command serves as a powerful indictment against the Israelites' disobedience to God. Their lifestyle, characterized by abstinence and nomadic living, was a outward expression of their deep commitment to a spiritual heritage and separation from the excesses and idolatry of the surrounding culture. God commends them for their steadfastness, contrasting their faithfulness with Judah's sinfulness. This highlights the importance of generational obedience and the principle of distinctiveness for God's people. Their commitment wasn't just a preference; it was an oath, demonstrating a profound adherence to their heritage, which God used to teach Israel a vital lesson about His expectations for His people.