Jeremiah 35:6-7
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What's easy to miss here is that "father" doesn't necessarily mean their biological parent, but rather their revered ancestor, Jonadab. This implies a dedication to his teachings that spanned centuries, a loyalty to a human command that Jeremiah would later contrast with their disobedience to God's. It highlights how deeply ingrained Jonadab's radical lifestyle had become for his descendants.
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. 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.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is commanded to test the loyalty of the Rechabites by offering them wine, which they are strictly forbidden from drinking by their ancestor Jonadab. Despite living in Judah for generations, they have maintained a nomadic lifestyle, abstaining from wine, farming, and permanent dwellings to honor Jonadab's command and live as strangers in the land. Their unwavering obedience to a long-dead human father stands in stark contrast to the disobedience of Judah to their living God.
Imagine a command from 300 years ago still shaping your daily choices. That's the reality for the Rechabites, whose commitment to their ancestor's decree is about to be put to the test.
The Rechabites lived by a strict set of rules passed down from their ancestor, Jonadab son of Rechab. These weren't just suggestions; they were life-altering commands:
This lifestyle wasn't about asceticism for its own sake. It was designed to keep them distinct, nomadic, and free from the corrupting influences and temptations that came with settled, agricultural life and the luxury it often brought. They embraced a life of hardship and simplicity, prioritizing obedience and a distinct identity.
The Rechabites' unwavering commitment to their father's ancient command is striking. But how does their obedience to a mortal man stack up against the people's disobedience to the living God?
Jeremiah's test of the Rechabites wasn't just about their personal habits; it was a divine object lesson for the nation of Judah.
The Contrast
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The Core Message
God used the Rechabites' obedience to highlight Judah's deep-seated rebellion. If a man's decree, even a dead one, could command such steadfast loyalty, how much more should God's authority and commands compel His own people? Their refusal of wine wasn't just a personal choice; it was a public display of the stark difference between genuine, active obedience and willful neglect.
Understand the original words
yayin · Hebrew Noun
A fermented beverage often associated with celebration or intoxication, frequently used in the Bible as a symbol of joy, luxury, or divine judgment. Its prohibition here signifies a commitment to a life of strict discipline and separation from settled agrarian society.
tsavah · Hebrew Verb
To command, charge, or give an order; it denotes the exercise of authority and the expectation of adherence to a specific instruction or directive.
ohel · Hebrew Noun
A movable shelter; in this context, it represents a nomadic lifestyle, signifying a state of being unsettled, pilgrim-like, or detached from permanent attachment to the land.
gur · Hebrew Verb
To dwell temporarily or reside as a foreigner/stranger; it highlights a status of not belonging permanently to a land or place, emphasizing a transient existence.
kerem · Hebrew Noun
The fruit-bearing vine or the land cultivated for growing grapes; biblically, it often symbolizes prosperity, blessing, or, conversely, a state of settled stability that the Rechabites rejected.
banah bayith · Hebrew Verb
The act of constructing a dwelling or permanent structure, symbolizing stability, permanence, and rootedness in a specific location.
This event showcases the unwavering, centuries-long obedience of the Rechabites to their human father's command, starkly contrasting with the disobedience of Judah to God, their eternal Father, even when offered a more lenient path.
c. 842 BC
Jonadab's Vow and Instruction
Jonadab, a descendant of Rechab, instructs his family to live a nomadic life, abstaining from wine, building houses, and sowing seeds, likely as a way to remain distinct from the surrounding Canaanite culture and its excesses.
c. 842 BC
Jehu's Consolidation of Power
Jonadab allies himself with Jehu during his bloody purge of the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal in Israel. This alliance likely solidified Jonadab's influence and the distinct identity of his followers.
Between c. 842 BC and 609 BC
Rechabites Migrate to Jerusalem
As the Northern Kingdom of Israel faced increasing instability and invasions, the Rechabites moved their families to Jerusalem for safety, though they continued to adhere to Jonadab's nomadic lifestyle precepts.
c. 609 BC
Reign of Jehoiakim Begins
Jeremiah receives the prophetic message concerning the Rechabites during the reign of Jehoiakim, a time when Judah's political and spiritual condition was deteriorating, marked by outward prosperity but inward corruption.
c. 609 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Tests the Rechabites
The LORD commands Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites into the Temple, offer them wine, and see if they will drink, a test designed to highlight their obedience and contrast it with Judah's disobedience.
c. 609 BC
Rechabites Refuse Wine
The Rechabites refuse to drink the wine offered, citing Jonadab's command, demonstrating remarkable adherence to their ancestral vow for nearly 300 years.
This passage introduces Jonadab, the ancestor of the Rechabites, highlighting his significant role and influence in Israel. It establishes the historical connection that underscores the Rechabites' deep-rooted adherence to his commands.
Numbers 6:1-12This chapter details the Nazirite vow, which included abstaining from wine, mirroring the Rechabites' commitment. It shows that such self-denial for God's purposes was a recognized practice within ancient Israel.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14This passage outlines the blessings for obedience to God's commands, promising prosperity and long life in the land. The Rechabites' obedience, even in a nomadic lifestyle, ultimately connected to this principle of living faithfully in God's provision.
Proverbs 20:1This verse directly warns that 'Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.' This wisdom aligns with the Rechabites' father's command, suggesting a deeper understanding of the dangers of intoxication.
1 Corinthians 10:31This New Testament principle encourages believers to do everything for God's glory. The Rechabites' strict adherence to their father's command, even in the face of temptation, can be seen as a demonstration of living all aspects of life to honor a commitment.
barnesJeremiah 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, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:"
Wine is the symbol of a settled life, because the vine requires time for its growth and care in its cultivation, while the preparation of the wine itself requires buildings, and it then has to be stored up before it is ready for use. The drink of nomads consists of the milk of their herds.
calvinJeremiah 35:1-7: "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,"
And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:
Et adduxi eos in domum Jehovae ad cubiculum filiorum Chanan filii Igdaliae, viri Dei, quod erat juxta cubiculum p…
What's easy to miss here is that "father" doesn't necessarily mean their biological parent, but rather their revered ancestor, Jonadab. This implies a dedication to his teachings that spanned centuries, a loyalty to a human command that Jeremiah would later contrast with their disobedience to God's. It highlights how deeply ingrained Jonadab's radical lifestyle had become for his descendants.
Jeremiah is commanded to test the loyalty of the Rechabites by offering them wine, which they are strictly forbidden from drinking by their ancestor Jonadab. Despite living in Judah for generations, they have maintained a nomadic lifestyle, abstaining from wine, farming, and permanent dwellings to honor Jonadab's command and live as strangers in the land. Their unwavering obedience to a long-dead human father stands in stark contrast to the disobedience of Judah to their living God.
Jeremiah is commanded to test the loyalty of the Rechabites by offering them wine, which they are strictly forbidden from drinking by their ancestor Jonadab. Despite living in Judah for generations, they have maintained a nomadic lifestyle, abstaining from wine, farming, and permanent dwellings to honor Jonadab's command and live as strangers in the land. Their unwavering obedience to a long-dead human father stands in stark contrast to the disobedience of Judah to their living God.
"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. You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or h…" — What's easy to miss here is that "father" doesn't necessarily mean their biological parent, but rather their revered ancestor, Jonadab. This implies a dedication to his teachings that spanned centuri…
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Last reviewed October 2026
