Focused Passage

Jeremiah 35:12-19

The Rekabites Obey Their Father, but Judah Refuses the LORD

The chapter moves from the LORD's command to test the Rekabites with wine, to their refusal based on ancestral obedience, to the LORD's contrast between their faithfulness and Judah's refusal to listen, and finally to judgment on Judah and blessing on the Rekabites.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:

13 “This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem: ‘Will you not accept discipline and obey My words?’ declares the LORD.

14 The words of Jonadab son of Rechab have been carried out. He commanded his sons not to drink wine, and they have not drunk it to this very day because they have obeyed the command of their forefather. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you have not obeyed Me!

15 Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.

16 Yes, the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not listened to Me.

17 Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will bring to Judah and to all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them but they have not obeyed, and I have called to them but they have not answered.’”

18 Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites: “This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have kept all his commandments and have done all that he charged you to do,

19 this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to stand before Me.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Original words

Then the word דְּבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular came וַֽיְהִי֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 13

Original words

This is what כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָאוֹת֙ H6635 Noun - common plural the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֞ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Go הָלֹ֤ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute and tell וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular the men לְאִ֣ישׁ H376 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֔ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the residents וּלְיֽוֹשְׁבֵ֖י H3427 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular Will you not הֲל֨וֹא H3808 Adverb - Negative particle accept תִקְח֥וּ H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural discipline מוּסָ֛ר H4148 Noun - masculine singular and obey לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ H8085 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition My words דְּבָרַ֖י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

The words דִּבְרֵ֣י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct of Jonadab יְהוֹנָדָ֣ב H3082 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Rechab רֵ֠כָב H7394 Noun - proper - masculine singular have been carried out הוּקַ֡ם H6965 Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker He אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative commanded צִוָּ֨ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his sons בָּנָ֜יו H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular not לְבִלְתִּ֣י H1115 Preposition-l to drink שְׁתֽוֹת־ H8354 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct wine יַ֗יִן H3196 Noun - masculine singular and they have not וְלֹ֤א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle drunk [it] שָׁתוּ֙ H8354 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to עַד־ H5704 Preposition this very הַזֶּ֔ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular day הַיּ֣וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular because כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction they have obeyed שָֽׁמְע֔וּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural - אֵ֖ת H853 Direct object marker the command מִצְוַ֣ת H4687 Noun - feminine singular construct of their forefather אֲבִיהֶ֑ם H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural But I וְאָ֨נֹכִ֜י H595 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular have spoken דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular to you אֲלֵיכֶם֙ H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural again and again הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם H7925 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute . . . וְדַבֵּ֔ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute and you have not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle obeyed Me שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural . . . אֵלָֽי׃ H413 Preposition | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Literally But I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking,
Verse 15

Original words

Again הַשְׁכֵּ֣ים H7925 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute and again וְשָׁלֹ֣חַ׀ H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute I have sent וָאֶשְׁלַ֣ח H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular you אֲלֵיכֶ֣ם H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct My servants עֲבָדַ֣י H5650 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular the prophets הַנְּבִאִ֣ים׀ H5030 Article | Noun - masculine plural proclaiming לֵאמֹ֡ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Turn שֻׁבוּ־ H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural now נָ֡א H4994 Interjection each of you אִישׁ֩ H376 Noun - masculine singular from your wicked הָרָעָ֜ה H7451 Article | Adjective - feminine singular ways מִדַּרְכּ֨וֹ H1870 Preposition-m | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular and correct וְהֵיטִ֣יבוּ H3190 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural your actions מַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֗ם H4611 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Do not וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb go after תֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . אַחֲרֵ֨י H310 Preposition other אֲחֵרִים֙ H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods אֱלֹהִ֤ים H430 Noun - masculine plural to serve them לְעָבְדָ֔ם H5647 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural Live וּשְׁבוּ֙ H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural in אֶל־ H413 Preposition the land הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative I have given נָתַ֥תִּי H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular to you לָכֶ֖ם Preposition | second person masculine plural and your fathers וְלַאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם H1 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural But you have not וְלֹ֤א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle inclined הִטִּיתֶם֙ H5186 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural אֶֽת־ אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker your ear אָזְנְכֶ֔ם H241 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural [or] וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle listened שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural to Me אֵלָֽי׃ H413 Preposition | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Literally Rising up early and sending (you), I have sent you
Verse 16

Original words

Yes כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction the sons בְּנֵי֙ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Jonadab יְהוֹנָדָ֣ב H3082 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Rechab רֵכָ֔ב H7394 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker carried out הֵקִ֗ימוּ H6965 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural the command מִצְוַ֥ת H4687 Noun - feminine singular construct their forefather אֲבִיהֶ֖ם H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative gave them צִוָּ֑ם H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural but these הַזֶּ֔ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular people וְהָעָ֣ם H5971 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular have not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle listened שָׁמְע֖וּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to Me אֵלָֽי׃ס H413 Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 17

Original words

Therefore לָ֠כֵן H3651 Adverb this is what כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֜ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular God אֱלֹהֵ֤י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Hosts צְבָאוֹת֙ H6635 Noun - common plural the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֨ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Behold הִנְנִ֧י H2005 Interjection | first person common singular I will bring מֵבִ֣יא H935 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Judah יְהוּדָ֗ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular and to וְאֶ֤ל H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the residents יֽוֹשְׁבֵי֙ H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular - אֵ֚ת H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the disaster הָ֣רָעָ֔ה H7451 Article | Adjective - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative I have pronounced דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular against them עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם H5921 Preposition | third person masculine plural because יַ֣עַן H3282 Adverb I have spoken דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular to them אֲלֵיהֶם֙ H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural but they have not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle obeyed שָׁמֵ֔עוּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural and I have called וָאֶקְרָ֥א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular to them לָהֶ֖ם Preposition | third person masculine plural but they have not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle answered עָנֽוּ׃ H6030 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 18

Original words

Then Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular said אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to the house וּלְבֵ֨ית H1004 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of the Rechabites הָרֵכָבִ֜ים H7397 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural This is what כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָאוֹת֙ H6635 Noun - common plural the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֞ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Because יַ֚עַן H3282 Adverb - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative you have obeyed שְׁמַעְתֶּ֔ם H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition the command מִצְוַ֖ת H4687 Noun - feminine singular construct of your forefather אֲבִיכֶ֑ם H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural Jonadab יְהוֹנָדָ֣ב H3082 Noun - proper - masculine singular and have kept וַֽתִּשְׁמְרוּ֙ H8104 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct his commandments מִצְוֺתָ֔יו H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular and have done וַֽתַּעֲשׂ֔וּ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural all כְּכֹ֥ל H3605 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative he charged you to do צִוָּ֖ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶתְכֶֽם׃ס H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

- לָכֵ֗ן H3651 Adverb this is what כֹּ֥ה H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֖וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֛ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Jonadab לְיוֹנָדָ֧ב H3122 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Rechab רֵכָ֛ב H7394 Noun - proper - masculine singular will never לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct fail to have יִכָּרֵ֨ת H3772 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular a man אִ֜ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular . . . הַיָּמִֽים׃פ H3117 Article | Noun - masculine plural to stand עֹמֵ֥ד H5975 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular before Me לְפָנַ֖י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.