Jeremiah 35:6 "We do not drink wine," they replied, "for our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, 'Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine.

◄ Jeremiah 35:6 ►

New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
“We do not drink wine,” they replied, “for our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, forever.

NASB 1995
But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, forever.

NASB 1977
But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, forever.

Legacy Standard Bible
But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, forever.

Amplified Bible
But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us: ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons, forever.

Christian Standard Bible
But they replied, “We do not drink wine, for Jonadab, son of our ancestor Rechab, commanded, ‘You and your descendants must never drink wine.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But they replied, “We do not drink wine, for Jonadab, son of our ancestor Rechab, commanded: ‘You and your sons must never drink wine.

American Standard Version
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:

Contemporary English Version
But they answered: No! The ancestor of our clan, Jonadab son of Rechab, made a rule that we must obey. He said, "Don't ever drink wine

English Revised Version
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:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They answered, "We don't drink wine, because our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab's son, gave us this order: 'You and your descendants must never drink wine.

Good News Translation
But they answered, "We do not drink wine. Our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab told us that neither we nor our descendants were ever to drink any wine.

International Standard Version
But they said, "We won't drink wine, because our ancestor, Rechab's son Jonadab commanded us: 'You and your descendants are never to drink wine!

Majority Standard Bible
“We do not drink wine,” they replied, “for our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine.

NET Bible
But they answered, "We do not drink wine because our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us not to. He told us, 'You and your children must never drink wine.

New Heart English Bible
But they said, "We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, 'You shall drink no wine, neither you, nor your sons, forever:

Webster's Bible Translation
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:

World English Bible
But they said, “We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, neither you nor your children, forever.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they say, “We do not drink wine: for Jonadab son of Rechab, our father, charged us, saying, You do not drink wine, you and your sons—for all time;

Young's Literal Translation
And they say, 'We do not drink wine: for Jonadab son of Rechab, our father, charged us, saying, Ye do not drink wine, ye and your sons -- unto the age;

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say, We shall not drink wine: for Jonadab, son of Rechab our father, commanded to us, saying, Ye shall not drink wine, ye and your sons even to forever.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they answered : We will not drink wine: because Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying: You shall drink no wine, neither you, nor your children, for ever:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they responded: “We will not drink wine. For Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father, instructed us, saying: ‘You shall not drink wine, you and your sons, in perpetuity.

New American Bible
“We do not drink wine,” they said to me; “Jonadab, Rechab’s son, our father, commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your children shall ever drink wine.

New Revised Standard Version
But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, ‘You shall never drink wine, neither you nor your children;

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But they said, We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, You shall drink no wine, neither you nor your sons for ever;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they said, “We do not drink wine, because Yonadab, son of Rekab, our father, commanded us and said to us: ‘You shall not drink wine, you and your sons, until eternity!

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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;

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

Audio Bible

Context

The Obedience of the Rechabites
…5Then I set pitchers full of wine and some cups before the men of the house of the Rechabites, and I said to them, “Drink some wine.” 6“We do not drink wine,” they replied, “for our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine. 7Nor are you ever to build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard. Those things are not for you. Instead, you must live in tents all your lives, so that you may live a long time in the land where you wander.’…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Numbers 6:2-5
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, / he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. / All the days of his separation, he is not to eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. ...

Judges 13:4-5
Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean. / For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

2 Kings 10:15-16
When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours?” “It is!” Jehonadab replied. “If it is,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot, / saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ride in his chariot.

1 Chronicles 2:55
and the clans of the scribes who lived at Jabez—the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

2 Kings 23:16-18
And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things. / Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?” And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.” / “Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

Leviticus 10:9
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.

Amos 2:11-12
I raised up prophets from your sons and Nazirites from your young men. Is this not true, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. / “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

Luke 1:15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Matthew 3:4
John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Mark 1:6
John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Acts 18:18
Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

Acts 21:23-24
Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. / Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

Romans 14:21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

Colossians 2:21
“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?

Treasury of Scripture

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

Jonadab.

2 Kings 10:15
And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

1 Chronicles 2:55
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Ye shall.

Leviticus 10:9
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

Numbers 6:2-5
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: …

Judges 13:7,14
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death…

all.

Jeremiah 35:10
But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.

Genesis 25:27
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

Leviticus 23:42,43
Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: …

that ye.

Genesis 36:7
For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

Exodus 20:12
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

1 Chronicles 16:19
When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

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Age Charged Command Commanded Descendants Drink Forefather Forever Jonadab Jon'adab Recab Rechab Wine

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Jeremiah 35

1. By the obedience of the Rechabites,
12. Jeremiah condemns the disobedience of the Jews.
18. God blesses the Rechabites for their obedience.

Berean Study Bible

But they replied
This phrase introduces the response of the Rechabites to the prophet Jeremiah. The Rechabites are a clan known for their strict adherence to the commands of their ancestor, Jonadab son of Rechab. Their reply is significant as it reflects their commitment to their ancestral traditions. In a broader biblical context, this moment highlights the importance of obedience and faithfulness, themes that resonate throughout Scripture. The Rechabites' response is a testament to their integrity and serves as a model of steadfastness in faith.

We do not drink wine
This declaration is central to the Rechabites' identity. The abstention from wine is a direct command from their forefather Jonadab, who instructed them to live a nomadic lifestyle, avoiding the trappings of settled life, which included the consumption of wine. In the Hebrew context, wine often symbolizes joy and celebration, but it can also represent temptation and excess. The Rechabites' refusal to drink wine is a powerful symbol of their dedication to a life of discipline and separation from worldly indulgences, echoing the Nazarite vow of abstinence found in Numbers 6.

for Jonadab son of Rechab
Jonadab, the son of Rechab, is a significant figure in the history of Israel. He is mentioned in 2 Kings 10:15-23 as an ally of Jehu in eradicating Baal worship from Israel. His legacy is one of zeal for the Lord and a commitment to purity and holiness. The Rechabites' adherence to Jonadab's commands centuries later underscores the enduring influence of a godly heritage. This highlights the biblical principle that the faith and values of one generation can profoundly impact future generations.

our forefather
The term "forefather" emphasizes the generational aspect of the Rechabites' obedience. It reflects the biblical theme of honoring one's ancestors and maintaining the traditions and commandments passed down through the family line. In a conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the importance of family and the transmission of faith and values from one generation to the next, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, where parents are instructed to teach God's commandments to their children.

commanded us
The word "commanded" indicates a directive that carries authority and expectation of obedience. In the Hebrew context, commandments are not merely suggestions but are binding and require adherence. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's commandments to His people, which are given for their benefit and to guide them in righteousness. The Rechabites' obedience to Jonadab's command is a microcosm of the larger call for God's people to obey His laws and statutes.

‘You and your descendants must never drink wine
This command from Jonadab to his descendants is a specific and enduring prohibition. It serves as a boundary that sets the Rechabites apart from the surrounding culture. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a call to holiness and separation from the world, a theme that is prevalent throughout the Bible. The Rechabites' commitment to this command is a powerful example of living counter-culturally in obedience to a higher calling, reminiscent of Romans 12:2, which urges believers not to conform to the patterns of this world.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6-8) We will drink no wine . . .--We have here, as it were, the rule of the tribe or order which looked to Jonadab as its founder. Like Samson (Judges 13:4-5), Samuel (inferentially from 1Samuel 1:11; 1Samuel 1:15), and the Baptist (Luke 1:15), they were life-long Nazarites (Numbers 6:1-6). Jonadab's intention was obviously to keep them as a separate people, retaining their nomadic form of life, free from the contamination of cities, or the temptations of acquired property, or the risks of attack which such property brought with it. They are now invited, and it must have seemed to them a strange invitation to come from a prophet's lips, to break that rule, and they answer almost in the tone of a calm but indignant protest. They have been faithful hitherto, and they will continue faithful still. In the words "that your days may be long in the land" we may, perhaps, trace an echo of the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12), viewed as extending to the relations which connect the members of an order with its head. The rule has descended to the followers of Islam, and the law of abstinence has been extended by Abdul-Wahab to tobacco. Diodoras Siculus (xix. 94) relates that the Nabathaeans adopted the Rechabite rule in its completeness. Possibly they were Rechabites. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Jonadab the son of Rechab our father. Jonadab (the contemporary of King Jehu) is here called the "father" of the Rechabites (comp. vers. 14, 16), in the same sense in which the disciples of the prophets are called the "sons of the prophets;" he was a teacher, if not (in some sense) a prophet. This illustrates the uncompromising zeal of Jonadab in 2 Kings 10:23; the religion of Baal was probably at the opposite pole in the matter of luxury to that of Jehovah as practised by Jonadab.

"Not for you the life
Of sloth and ease within the city's gates,
Where idol feasts are held, and incense smokes
To Baalim and Ashtaroth; where man
Loses his manhood, and the scoffers sit
Perverting judgment, selfish, soft, impure."

(Plumptre.) Ye shall drink no wine, etc. The Rechabites were, in fact, typical Arabs. The Wahhabee movement, in our own century, may be taken as partly parallel, though, of course, a settled life is not one of the abominations of the neo-orthodox Islam. A still more complete parallel is given by Diodorus Siculus (19:94), who states it to be the law of the Nabataeans, "neither to sow corn, nor to plant any fruit-bearing herb, nor to drink wine, nor to prepare houses," and gives as the motive of this the preservation of their independence.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“We do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

drink
נִשְׁתֶּה־ (niš·teh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

wine,”
יָּ֑יִן (yā·yin)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

they replied,
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“for
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

our forefather
אָבִ֗ינוּ (’ā·ḇî·nū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1: Father

Jonadab
יוֹנָדָ֨ב (yō·w·nā·ḏāḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3122: Jonadab

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Rechab
רֵכָ֜ב (rê·ḵāḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7394: Rechab -- perhaps 'band of riders', a Benjamite, also the head of a nomadic family

commanded
צִוָּ֤ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

us,
עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (‘ā·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

‘Neither you
אַתֶּ֥ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

nor your descendants
וּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם (ū·ḇə·nê·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

are ever to
לֹ֧א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

drink
תִשְׁתּוּ־ (ṯiš·tū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

wine.
יַ֛יִן (ya·yin)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 35:6 But they said We will drink no (Jer.)