Jeremiah 35:7
New International Version
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.’

New Living Translation
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.’

English Standard Version
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.’

Berean Standard Bible
Nor 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.’

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.’

New American Standard Bible
You shall not build a house, and you shall not sow seed nor plant a vineyard, nor own one; but you shall live in tents all your days, so that you may live many days in the land where you live as strangers.’

NASB 1995
‘You shall not build a house, and you shall not sow seed and you shall not plant a vineyard or own one; but in tents you shall dwell all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’

NASB 1977
‘And you shall not build a house, and you shall not sow seed, and you shall not plant a vineyard or own one; but in tents you shall dwell all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’

Legacy Standard Bible
And you shall not build a house, and you shall not sow seed, and you shall not plant a vineyard or own one; but tents you shall inhabit all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’

Amplified Bible
Nor shall you build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard or own one; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners (temporary residents).’

Christian Standard Bible
You must not build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard. Those things are not for you. Rather, you must live in tents your whole life, so you may live a long time on the soil where you stay as a resident alien.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You must not build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard. Those things are not for you. Rather, you must live in tents your whole life, so you may live a long time on the soil where you stay as a temporary resident.’

American Standard Version
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 wherein ye sojourn.

Contemporary English Version
or build houses or plant crops and vineyards. Instead, you must always live in tents and move from place to place. If you obey this command, you will live a long time."

English Revised Version
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 wherein ye sojourn.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Never build any houses or plant any fields or vineyards. You must never have any of these things. You must always live in tents so that you may live for a long time in the land where you are staying.'

Good News Translation
He also told us not to build houses or farm the land and not to plant vineyards or buy them. He commanded us always to live in tents, so that we might remain in this land where we live like strangers.

International Standard Version
You aren't to build houses, you aren't to sow seeds, and you aren't to plant vineyards, or own them. Instead, you are to live in tents all your lives, so you will enjoy a long life in the land where you reside.'

Majority Standard Bible
Nor 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.’

NET Bible
Do not build houses. Do not plant crops. Do not plant a vineyard or own one. Live in tents all your lives. If you do these things you will live a long time in the land that you wander about on.'

New Heart English Bible
neither shall you build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any; but all your days you shall dwell in tents; that you may live many days in the land in which you live.'

Webster's Bible Translation
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 are strangers.

World English Bible
You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, or have any; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land in which you live as nomads.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you do not build a house, and you do not sow seed, and you do not plant a vineyard, nor have of [these]; for you dwell in tents all your days, that you may live many days on the face of the ground to where you are sojourning.

Young's Literal Translation
and a house ye do not build, and seed ye do not sow, and a vineyard ye do not plant, nor have ye any; for in tents do ye dwell all your days, that ye may live many days on the face of the ground whither ye are sojourning.

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye shall not build a house, and ye shall not sow seed, and ye shall not plant a vineyard, and it shall not be, to you: for in tents shall ye dwell all your days, so that ye shall live many days upon the face of the earth where ye are strangers there.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither shall ye build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyards, nor have any: but you shall dwell in tents all your days, that you may live many days upon the face of the earth, in which you are strangers.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall not build houses, and you shall not sow any seeds, and you shall not plant or have vineyards. Instead, you shall live in tents all your days, so that you may live many days upon the face of the earth, in which you are sojourners.’

New American Bible
Build no house and sow no seed; do not plant vineyards or own any. You must dwell in tents all your lives, so that you may live long on the land where you live as resident aliens.’

New Revised Standard Version
nor shall you ever build a house, or sow seed; nor shall you plant a vineyard, or even own one; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you reside.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Neither shall you build houses for yourselves nor sow seed nor plant vineyards nor have any; but you shall dwell in tents all your days; for you shall live many days in the land where you sojourn.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall not build houses for yourselves, and you shall not sow seed and you shall not plant vineyards, and you shall have nothing, but you will sit in a tent all the days, because you shall live many days on the face of the land in which you dwell’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 wherein ye sojourn.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
nor shall ye at all build houses, nor sow any seed, nor shall ye have a vineyard: for ye shall dwell in tents all your days; that ye may live many days upon the land, in which ye sojourn.
Audio Bible



Context
The Obedience of the Rechabites
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.’ 8And we have obeyed the voice of our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab in all he commanded us. So we have not drunk wine all our lives—neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters.…

Cross References
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.

Numbers 6:3
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.

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.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:15
“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.

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.

2 Kings 10:23
Next, Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you—only servants of Baal.”

2 Kings 23:14
He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones.

2 Kings 23:24
Furthermore, Josiah removed the mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this to carry out the words of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD.

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.

Nehemiah 13:15-17
In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day. / Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem. / Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

Isaiah 5:11
Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine.

Isaiah 28:7
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.

Ezekiel 44:21
No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.

Amos 2:12
“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.


Treasury of Scripture

Neither shall you build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days you shall dwell in tents; that you may live many days in the land where you be strangers.

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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.














You must not build houses
This command to the Rechabites reflects a lifestyle of simplicity and detachment from material possessions. The Hebrew root for "build" (בנה, banah) implies establishing permanence. By avoiding the construction of houses, the Rechabites were to remain transient, symbolizing a reliance on God rather than on earthly security. This lifestyle echoes the call for believers to focus on heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones (Matthew 6:19-21).

sow seed
The act of sowing seed represents settling down and investing in the land. The Hebrew word for "sow" (זרע, zara) is often associated with cultivation and growth. By refraining from sowing, the Rechabites were to avoid entanglement with the agricultural cycles that could lead to a sedentary lifestyle. This command underscores a spiritual principle of trusting in God's provision rather than human effort.

or plant vineyards
Vineyards in ancient Israel were symbols of prosperity and long-term investment. The Hebrew word for "plant" (נטע, nata) suggests establishing roots. By not planting vineyards, the Rechabites were to avoid the temptation of seeking comfort and wealth. This reflects a call to spiritual vigilance, reminding believers to remain focused on their spiritual journey rather than becoming complacent with worldly success.

You must not have any of these things
This phrase emphasizes the totality of the Rechabites' commitment to their vow. The Hebrew word for "have" (היה, hayah) indicates possession or existence. The Rechabites' abstention from these activities serves as a powerful testament to their obedience and dedication. It challenges believers to examine their own lives for areas where they may be holding onto worldly attachments.

but you must always live in tents
Living in tents signifies a nomadic lifestyle, one of constant movement and dependence on God. The Hebrew word for "tents" (אהל, ohel) is associated with temporary dwelling. This command highlights the Rechabites' identity as sojourners, paralleling the Christian call to live as pilgrims on earth, with a focus on the eternal home promised by God (Hebrews 11:13-16).

so that you may live a long time
The promise of longevity is tied to obedience. The Hebrew word for "live" (חיה, chayah) conveys the idea of thriving and flourishing. This assurance reflects the biblical principle that obedience to God's commands leads to blessing and life. It serves as an encouragement for believers to trust in God's promises and to live in accordance with His will.

in the land where you sojourn
The Rechabites' sojourning in the land symbolizes their temporary status and reliance on God's guidance. The Hebrew word for "sojourn" (גור, gur) implies residing as a foreigner. This mirrors the Christian understanding of being in the world but not of it (John 17:14-16), encouraging believers to maintain their distinct identity and purpose while journeying through life.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Nor are you ever
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to build
תִבְנ֗וּ (ṯiḇ·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1129: To build

a house
וּבַ֣יִת (ū·ḇa·yiṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

or sow
תִזְרָ֙עוּ֙ (ṯiz·rā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2232: To sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify

seed
וְזֶ֤רַע (wə·ze·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

or plant
תִטָּ֔עוּ (ṯiṭ·ṭā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5193: To strike in, fix, to plant

a vineyard.
וְכֶ֣רֶם (wə·ḵe·rem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3754: A garden, vineyard

Those things are
יִֽהְיֶ֖ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

not for you.
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

Instead,
כִּ֠י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you must live
תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ (tê·šə·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in tents
בָּאֳהָלִ֤ים (bā·’o·hā·lîm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 168: A tent

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your lives,
יְמֵיכֶ֔ם (yə·mê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

so that
לְמַ֨עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

you may live
תִּֽחְי֜וּ (tiḥ·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

a long
רַבִּים֙ (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

time
יָמִ֤ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

in
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the land
הָאֲדָמָ֔ה (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

where
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you
אַתֶּ֖ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

sojourn.’
גָּרִ֥ים (gā·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1481: To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostility


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 35:7 Neither shall you build house nor sow (Jer.)
Jeremiah 35:6
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