Jeremiah 35:8

KJV

Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus have we obeyed {H8085} the voice {H6963} of Jonadab {H3082} the son {H1121} of Rechab {H7394} our father {H1} in all that he hath charged {H6680} us, to drink {H8354} no wine {H3196} all our days {H3117}, we, our wives {H802}, our sons {H1121}, nor our daughters {H1323};

Complete Jewish Bible

We have heeded the words of Yonadav the son of Rekhav, our ancestor, in all that he instructed us to do: not to drink wine as long as we live - we, our wives, our sons and our daughters;

Berean Standard Bible

And 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.

American Standard Version

And we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 35:8 vividly portrays the unwavering, multi-generational obedience of the Rechabites to the specific commands of their ancestor, Jonadab, particularly their strict abstinence from wine. This remarkable faithfulness, maintained across centuries by every member of their clan, served as a profound and divinely orchestrated object lesson, starkly contrasting with the persistent and rebellious disobedience of the people of Judah to the commands of the Lord their God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 35 is strategically placed within the book of Jeremiah, serving as a powerful, living parable amidst Jeremiah's pronouncements of judgment against Judah for their idolatry, covenant infidelity, and persistent rebellion. The chapter opens with God directly commanding Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites into the temple courts, offer them wine, and observe their response (Jeremiah 35:1-5). Their steadfast refusal, articulated in detail in verse 8, directly sets the stage for God's subsequent commendation of their exemplary obedience (Jeremiah 35:12-14) and His severe, condemnatory rebuke of Judah's profound disobedience (Jeremiah 35:15-17). The narrative concludes with a divine promise of perpetual blessing and a lasting legacy for the Rechabites due to their faithfulness (Jeremiah 35:18-19), thereby highlighting the stark and eternal consequences of obedience versus rebellion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Jeremiah 35 are set during a period of intense national crisis for the kingdom of Judah, likely during the tumultuous reign of King Jehoiakim (c. 609-598 BC), when the formidable Babylonian empire posed an imminent and existential threat (Jeremiah 35:11). Despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, Judah had consistently violated their covenant with Yahweh, engaging in widespread idolatry, social injustice, and moral decay. In stark contrast, the Rechabites were a distinct, nomadic clan, tracing their lineage back to the Kenites (1 Chronicles 2:55), who were known for their strict adherence to the ascetic lifestyle prescribed by their ancestor Jonadab, who lived approximately 250 years earlier (2 Kings 10:15-23). Their practices—abstaining from wine, refraining from building houses, sowing no seed, and living exclusively in tents—represented a deliberate and counter-cultural rejection of the settled, agricultural, and often corrupting lifestyle of Canaanite society. Their unwavering commitment to this ancient family vow stood in radical opposition to Judah's consistent and devastating abandonment of their divine covenant with the Lord.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 35:8 contributes significantly to several overarching theological and narrative themes prevalent not only in Jeremiah but throughout the Old Testament. The most prominent theme is **Obedience**, specifically the Rechabites' unyielding adherence to their ancestral charge, which serves as a divine **Object Lesson** for the unfaithful people of Judah. This verse powerfully highlights the stark **Contrast** between human faithfulness to a human command and Judah's profound **Disobedience** to God's divine commands, thereby emphasizing the gravity of their covenant breach. It also underscores the theme of **Generational Faithfulness**, as the Rechabites' commitment was meticulously passed down and maintained across centuries, illustrating the enduring power of a righteous legacy. This story implicitly raises the crucial question of **Covenant Loyalty**, challenging Judah to reflect deeply on their own commitment to the Lord, especially when contrasted with the Rechabites' steadfastness to a less significant, human-originated vow. This divine object lesson is a powerful, urgent call for Judah to truly "hear" and "obey" the Lord, a recurring and vital motif throughout Jeremiah, as seen in passages like [Jeremiah 7:23](/jeremiah/7-23 "Jeremiah 7:23 - The Call to Obedience") and [Jeremiah 11:4](/jeremiah/11-4 "Jeremiah 11:4 - Covenant and Obedience").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Obeyed (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** This primitive root signifies "to hear intelligently," often carrying the strong implication of attention, consent, and especially active compliance or obedience. It denotes more than merely perceiving a sound; it means to listen attentively and respond in submission. In this context, it underscores the Rechabites' deliberate, active, and willing submission to Jonadab's instructions, standing in stark contrast to Judah's repeated failure to truly "hear" and "obey" God's voice.
* **Father (Hebrew, _ʼâb'_):** A primitive word denoting "father," used broadly in both literal and figurative senses. Here, it refers to Jonadab, the progenitor and authoritative figure whose commands established the foundational way of life for the Rechabite clan. The profound reverence and unwavering adherence shown to this ancestral "father" serve to highlight Judah's disrespect and profound disobedience towards God, their ultimate Father and covenant Lord.
* **Wine (Hebrew, _yayin'_):** Derived from an unused root meaning "to effervesce," this term refers to fermented grape juice. In biblical contexts, "wine" is often associated with feasting, joy, and celebration, but also with intoxication, excess, and moral compromise. The Rechabites' complete abstinence from "wine" was a distinctive and central mark of their separation, self-control, and commitment to a disciplined, ascetic lifestyle, symbolizing their adherence to a core tenet of their ancestral charge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father":** This opening clause immediately establishes the central theme of the verse: the Rechabites' unwavering and conscious submission to their ancestral patriarch, Jonadab. Their obedience is presented not as passive compliance but as an active, deliberate adherence to his spoken "voice" or command, highlighting the deep respect and commitment they held for their heritage and the authority of their forefather.
* **"in all that he hath charged us,":** This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive and unreserved nature of their obedience. It was not selective or partial but extended to "all" the instructions Jonadab had "charged" them with. This detail underscores their integrity and consistency, demonstrating a total commitment to the ancestral mandate, which included not only abstaining from wine but also living in tents and refraining from agriculture (Jeremiah 35:7).
* **"to drink no wine all our days,":** This specific command, "to drink no wine," is singled out as a primary and emblematic example of their obedience. The crucial phrase "all our days" signifies the lifelong and generational commitment to this particular prohibition. It was not a temporary vow but a fundamental, perpetual principle that defined their identity and was meticulously passed down through every succeeding generation.
* **"we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;":** This final clause powerfully stresses the universal application of the command within the Rechabite family unit. It was not just for the men, or for a single generation, but for every individual—men, women, and children—across all time. This demonstrates the deep integration of Jonadab's charge into the very fabric of their family and communal life, ensuring its continuity and comprehensive observance by every member.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device powerfully employed in Jeremiah 35:8, and indeed throughout the entire chapter, is **Contrast**. The unwavering, multi-generational obedience of the Rechabites to a human command is starkly contrasted with the persistent, centuries-long disobedience of the people of Judah to God's divine commands. This profound contrast serves as a potent **Exemplum** or **Object Lesson**, where the Rechabites' faithfulness is presented as a living, tangible sermon, intentionally designed to shame, rebuke, and convict Judah for their profound rebellion. The **Repetition** of the phrase "all our days" and the comprehensive listing of "we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters" emphasize the depth, continuity, and universal application of their obedience, further amplifying the moral and spiritual chasm between the two groups and highlighting Judah's inexcusable unfaithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 35:8 presents a profound and sobering theological truth: the unsettling ease with which humanity often honors human traditions, commands, and even less significant vows, while simultaneously neglecting or outright defying the divine commands of the Almighty God. The Rechabites' steadfast obedience to Jonadab's charge, particularly their abstinence from wine and their nomadic lifestyle, highlights a deep-seated respect for ancestral authority and an unwavering commitment to a prescribed way of life. This stands in stark, damning contrast to Judah's consistent and catastrophic failure to uphold their covenant obligations to the Lord, despite His repeated calls to repentance, His patient warnings, and His gracious promises of blessing. The passage underscores God's righteous indignation at His people's spiritual apathy, covenant infidelity, and persistent rebellion, using the exemplary faithfulness of a seemingly peripheral group to expose the depth of Judah's spiritual depravity and their inexcusable lack of loyalty. It serves as a timeless and convicting reminder that true faithfulness is demonstrated not merely by religious rituals or outward displays but by a consistent, wholehearted, and comprehensive obedience to God's revealed will, meticulously passed down through generations.

* [Deuteronomy 28:1-2](/deuteronomy/28-1-2 "Deuteronomy 28:1-2 - Blessings for Obedience")
* [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
The steadfast and multi-generational obedience of the Rechabites, as depicted in Jeremiah 35:8, offers a powerful and convicting mirror for believers today. Their unwavering commitment to a human command, maintained with remarkable consistency across centuries, challenges us to deeply examine the sincerity and depth of our own obedience to God's divine commands. If a human legacy could inspire such profound and enduring faithfulness, how much more should the eternal, life-giving, and supremely authoritative Word of God motivate us to consistent, wholehearted submission? This verse calls us to critically evaluate what "voices" we prioritize in our lives, urging us to elevate God's voice above all others, to cultivate a spirit of genuine hearing and doing, and to live with unwavering integrity and consistency in our daily walk with Him. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the paramount importance of generational faithfulness, urging us to intentionally model and pass on a vibrant legacy of devotion to Christ to our children, grandchildren, and future generations, ensuring that the "voice" of our Heavenly Father is truly heard, cherished, and obeyed in our homes, churches, and communities "all our days."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "voices" or commands do I prioritize in my life, and how do they compare in weight and influence to the "voice" of God as revealed in His Word?**
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be showing selective or partial obedience to God, similar to Judah's spiritual apathy and rebellion?**
* **How am I intentionally building and modeling a legacy of faith, obedience, and devotion to Christ for future generations in my family or spiritual community?**
* **What concrete steps can I take this week to cultivate a more consistent, comprehensive, and joyful obedience to God's Word in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**Who were the Rechabites, and why were they important to Jeremiah's message?**

Answer: The Rechabites were a distinct, nomadic clan, tracing their ancestry back to Jonadab, the son of Rechab. They were renowned for their strict adherence to an ascetic lifestyle prescribed by their ancestor, which included abstaining from wine, refraining from building houses, and living exclusively in tents. In the time of Jeremiah, God strategically used them as a living object lesson to expose the profound and inexcusable disobedience of the people of Judah. While the Rechabites faithfully obeyed their human ancestor's commands for centuries, Judah consistently rebelled against God's divine commands, despite His patient warnings. Their unwavering loyalty to a human tradition powerfully highlighted Judah's unfaithfulness to their divine covenant, serving as a severe rebuke and a desperate call to repentance, as detailed throughout [Jeremiah chapter 35](/jeremiah/35 "Jeremiah 35 - The Obedience of the Rechabites").

**Why was abstaining from wine a significant command for the Rechabites?**

Answer: Abstinence from wine was a central and defining tenet of Jonadab's charge to his descendants. It symbolized a deliberate and counter-cultural rejection of the settled, agricultural, and often idolatrous lifestyle prevalent in Canaanite society. It was a distinctive mark of their identity, self-control, and unwavering commitment to a simpler, more disciplined existence, setting them apart from the surrounding culture. While this was a human command and not a direct divine injunction to them, their faithfulness to this specific instruction became a powerful and divinely orchestrated example of obedience that God used to shame Judah, who had abandoned God's own laws despite their divine origin, life-giving purpose, and the blessings promised for their observance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 35:8, with its compelling portrayal of the Rechabites' remarkable obedience to their human father, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the perfect, sinless obedience of Jesus Christ to His Heavenly Father. While the Rechabites' faithfulness was commendable and exemplary, it was ultimately a human obedience to a human command, limited in scope and utterly incapable of atoning for sin or bringing about true righteousness. In stark and redemptive contrast, Jesus, the true Son of God, perfectly "obeyed the voice" of His Father in "all that He charged" Him, even to the point of humbling Himself and accepting death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). His obedience was not merely an abstinence from certain things, but an active, perfectly righteous life lived in complete, joyful submission to God's will, culminating in His atoning sacrifice on Calvary. Through Christ's perfect obedience, which is graciously imputed to all who believe in Him, we are declared righteous before God ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Righteousness Through Obedience")). He is the "father" of a new, spiritual lineage, a people who, by the indwelling power of His Holy Spirit, are now empowered to truly hear and obey God's voice, something the Old Covenant people consistently failed to do. The Rechabites' legacy was one of human faithfulness; Christ's legacy is one of divine redemption, the establishment of a new covenant, and the transformation of hearts, enabling us to truly "abide in His love by keeping His commandments" ([John 15:10](/john/15-10 "John 15:10 - Abiding in Christ's Love Through Obedience")).

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

Colossians 3:20

Children, obey [your] parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Proverbs 4:10

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Proverbs 4:1

¶ Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

Proverbs 4:2

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Proverbs 1:8

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Proverbs 1:9

For they [shall be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Proverbs 6:20

¶ My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: