Jeremiah 35:5

KJV

And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I set {H5414} before {H6440} the sons {H1121} of the house {H1004} of the Rechabites {H7397} pots {H1375} full {H4392} of wine {H3196}, and cups {H3563}, and I said {H559} unto them, Drink {H8354} ye wine {H3196}.

Complete Jewish Bible

There I set in front of the members of the clan of the Rekhavim pitchers full of wine and cups, and said to them, "Drink some wine."

Berean Standard Bible

Then 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.”

American Standard Version

And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 35:5 describes the pivotal moment in God's object lesson to Judah, where the prophet Jeremiah, under divine instruction, presents the Rechabites with an overt temptation: "pots full of wine, and cups," commanding them to "Drink ye wine." This act was designed to test their unwavering commitment to their ancestral vow of abstinence from wine and a nomadic lifestyle, serving as a stark and powerful contrast to the persistent disobedience of the people of Judah to God's covenant commands.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 35:5 is situated within a significant prophetic act in the book of Jeremiah, specifically within a section that highlights Judah's spiritual rebellion and impending judgment (chapters 25-45). Chapter 35 itself functions as a dramatic object lesson. God instructs Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites, a distinct and disciplined clan, into the temple area and present them with wine. This specific verse details Jeremiah's execution of that divine command, setting the stage for the Rechabites' steadfast refusal in the subsequent verses. Their faithfulness to a human command stands in stark contrast to Judah's repeated failure to obey God's divine covenant, a theme emphasized throughout Jeremiah, as seen in passages like God's lament over Judah's stubbornness in [Jeremiah 7:23-26](/jeremiah/7-23-26 "Jeremiah 7:23-26 - Disobedience of Judah"). The chapter culminates in God's commendation of the Rechabites and condemnation of Judah, making Jeremiah 35:5 the crucial setup for this powerful comparison.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Rechabites were a nomadic clan, descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab, who lived approximately 250 years before Jeremiah's time (cf. [2 Kings 10:15-16](/2_kings/10-15-16 "2 Kings 10:15-16 - Jehonadab's Loyalty to Jehu")). Jonadab had commanded his descendants to abstain from wine, not to build houses, sow seed, or plant vineyards, but to live in tents. These commands were intended to preserve a simple, separated lifestyle, perhaps as a protest against the settled, often idolatrous, practices of the surrounding Canaanite culture and even the apostasy within Israel. Their adherence to this ancestral vow was remarkable, especially in a society where wine consumption was common and settled life was the norm. At the time of Jeremiah's prophecy (late 7th/early 6th century BCE), Judah was steeped in idolatry, social injustice, and a superficial religiosity, having consistently broken the covenant with Yahweh despite numerous warnings from prophets.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme illuminated by this verse and the broader chapter is **Obedience and Faithfulness**. The Rechabites' unwavering adherence to a human vow, even under direct temptation, highlights the profound importance of consistent obedience. Their integrity and consistency stand as a powerful **Divine Rebuke through Contrast** against the backdrop of Judah's chronic disobedience and covenant unfaithfulness. God uses the Rechabites' exemplary conduct to shame His own people, demonstrating that even a human command could elicit greater loyalty than His divine statutes. This underscores the principle that true faith is demonstrated through practical, consistent obedience, a concept echoed throughout scripture, such as in [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Better than Sacrifice"), where Samuel declares that "to obey is better than sacrifice." The Rechabites exemplify a rare steadfastness in a period marked by spiritual decline and moral compromise.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **set (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** This primitive root (H5414) means "to give," but is used with great latitude of application, including to "put," "make," or "place." In Jeremiah 35:5, it conveys Jeremiah's deliberate action of placing the wine and cups before the Rechabites. This was not a casual offering but a purposeful setup, a direct challenge orchestrated by God, emphasizing the intentionality of the test and the directness of the confrontation.
* **wine (Hebrew, _yayin'_):** This term (H3196) refers to fermented grape juice, and by implication, can also suggest intoxication. Its presence here is critical because abstaining from wine was a foundational tenet of the Rechabite vow. The "pots full of wine" signify an abundant and readily available temptation, making their subsequent refusal all the more remarkable and a clear demonstration of their commitment to their ancestral command.
* **Drink (Hebrew, _shâthâh'_):** This primitive root (H8354) means "to imbibe," whether literally or figuratively. The imperative "Drink ye wine" is a direct, unambiguous command from Jeremiah, acting under God's instruction, to the Rechabites. It forces an immediate decision and highlights the straightforward nature of the test. Their refusal to "drink" directly demonstrates their unwavering resolve and fidelity to their long-held vow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites":** This clause establishes the agent (Jeremiah, acting on God's behalf) and the specific recipients of the test. The phrase "sons of the house of the Rechabites" emphasizes their collective identity and their generational adherence to their ancestral practices, highlighting that this was not an individual whim but a deeply ingrained communal commitment. The setting "before" them implies a direct, unavoidable presentation, making the temptation overt and personal.
* **"pots full of wine, and cups":** This describes the instruments of temptation. The mention of "pots full of wine" suggests an abundance and ready availability, not just a token offering. The inclusion of "cups" indicates that the wine was prepared for immediate consumption, making the invitation to drink tangible and pressing. This imagery underscores the direct challenge to their vow of abstinence, presenting a clear opportunity for them to compromise.
* **"and I said unto them, Drink ye wine":** This final clause presents the explicit command from Jeremiah. It is a direct, simple, and unequivocal invitation to violate their ancestral vow. The straightforward nature of the command leaves no room for misinterpretation, making their subsequent refusal a clear and powerful demonstration of their unwavering integrity and obedience to Jonadab's instructions, especially in the face of direct pressure from a prophet of God.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Jeremiah 35:5 and its broader context is **Object Lesson**. The entire scenario, orchestrated by God through Jeremiah, is designed not merely to test the Rechabites but to serve as a living parable for the disobedient people of Judah. The Rechabites' steadfast adherence to a human tradition becomes a tangible, undeniable **Contrast** to Judah's profound failure to obey God's divine covenant. Furthermore, the wine itself functions as **Symbolism**, representing temptation and the common indulgences of settled society that the Rechabites eschewed. Their refusal to drink symbolizes their commitment to a life of separation and fidelity, which God then uses to highlight Judah's spiritual drunkenness and infidelity. The direct command from Jeremiah also serves as a form of **Dramatic Irony**, as the prophet, typically a messenger of God's commands, is here commanding an action that would violate a human vow, thereby highlighting the Rechabites' consistent faithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 35:5, as the setup for the Rechabites' exemplary obedience, powerfully illustrates God's deep concern for covenant faithfulness and the nature of true obedience. It reveals that God values not just outward religious observance, but a consistent, heartfelt commitment to His commands. The Rechabites' integrity, even to a human vow, serves as a divine indictment against Judah's spiritual adultery, demonstrating that even those outside the direct covenant line could exhibit a greater measure of loyalty than God's chosen people. This passage underscores that God often uses unexpected examples to expose the hypocrisy and complacency of those who claim to be His, calling all to a life of unwavering devotion.

* [Deuteronomy 11:26-28](/deuteronomy/11-26-28 "Deuteronomy 11:26-28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience")
* [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is Better than Sacrifice")
* [Matthew 7:24-27](/matthew/7-24-27 "Matthew 7:24-27 - The Wise and Foolish Builders")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 35:5, though seemingly a simple command, sets the stage for a profound challenge to believers today. The Rechabites' unwavering commitment to a centuries-old human vow, even when directly tempted, serves as a powerful mirror for our own lives. Are we as faithful and consistent in our obedience to God's divine, eternal commands as they were to their ancestral traditions? Their integrity in a compromising world calls us to examine the areas where we might be tempted to compromise our faith or deviate from God's revealed will. This verse reminds us that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but is demonstrated through consistent, practical obedience, lived out with integrity before God and humanity. Our steadfastness in following Christ's teachings becomes a powerful testimony, just as the Rechabites' faithfulness was a rebuke to the disobedient people of Judah, challenging us to live out our convictions with unwavering resolve.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the unwavering commitment of the Rechabites challenge my own consistency in obeying God's commands?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be more faithful to human expectations or traditions than to God's revealed will?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper, more consistent obedience to God, reflecting the integrity seen in the Rechabites?**

### FAQ
**Who were the Rechabites and why were they important?**

Answer: The Rechabites were a distinct nomadic clan, descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab. They were important because they strictly adhered to a vow made by their ancestor centuries earlier, which included abstaining from wine, not building houses, sowing seed, or planting vineyards, and living in tents. In [Jeremiah 35](/jeremiah/35 "Jeremiah 35 - The Rechabites' Obedience"), God used their unwavering faithfulness to this human vow as a powerful object lesson to shame the people of Judah, who had repeatedly broken their divine covenant with God. Their consistent obedience highlighted Judah's profound disobedience.

**Why did God command Jeremiah to test the Rechabites with wine?**

Answer: God commanded Jeremiah to test the Rechabites with wine to create a living parable or object lesson for the people of Judah. By presenting the Rechabites with their forbidden drink and observing their steadfast refusal, God intended to highlight their remarkable obedience to a human command. This would then serve as a stark contrast to Judah's persistent and egregious disobedience to God's own divine commands, despite His constant warnings through prophets like Jeremiah (cf. [Jeremiah 7:23-26](/jeremiah/7-23-26 "Jeremiah 7:23-26 - The Disobedience of Judah")). The test was not to see if the Rechabites would fail, but to showcase their integrity as a rebuke to God's unfaithful people.

**What was the outcome of this test?**

Answer: As recorded in [Jeremiah 35:6-11](/jeremiah/35-6-11 "Jeremiah 35:6-11 - The Rechabites' Refusal"), the Rechabites steadfastly refused to drink the wine. They explained their unwavering commitment to their ancestor Jonadab's commands, citing their desire to live according to his instructions. Their faithfulness was commended by God, who promised them an enduring lineage (cf. [Jeremiah 35:19](/jeremiah/35-19 "Jeremiah 35:19 - God's Promise to the Rechabites")). Conversely, God used their example to pronounce judgment on Judah and Jerusalem for their disobedience, emphasizing that even a human family's commitment surpassed that of His own covenant people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 35:5 and the Rechabites' obedience serve as a powerful Old Testament example of faithfulness to a vow, their commitment ultimately points to the perfect and ultimate obedience found in Jesus Christ. The Rechabites' adherence to a human command, though commendable, foreshadows the Son of God's flawless submission to His Father's will, even unto death on a cross (cf. [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience and Humiliation")). Unlike Judah, who broke their covenant with God, Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law and the prophets, establishing a new covenant not based on human effort but on His shed blood (cf. [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Christ Fulfills the Law") and [Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in Christ's Blood")). The Rechabites' integrity, which earned them a temporal blessing, pales in comparison to the eternal salvation and righteousness imputed to believers through Christ's perfect obedience (cf. [Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Obedience of Christ and Righteousness")). In Christ, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of genuine obedience, reflecting the very integrity and faithfulness that God desires, and which the Rechabites imperfectly but powerfully exemplified.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Amos 2:12

But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

2 Corinthians 2:9

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

Jeremiah 35:2

Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.