Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Jeremiah 35:14

Next

The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.

The words {H1697} of Jonadab {H3082} the son {H1121} of Rechab {H7394}, that he commanded {H6680} his sons {H1121} not to drink {H8354} wine {H3196}, are performed {H6965}; for unto this day {H3117} they drink {H8354} none, but obey {H8085} their father's {H1} commandment {H4687}: notwithstanding I have spoken {H1696} unto you, rising early {H7925} and speaking {H1696}; but ye hearkened {H8085} not unto me.

'The words of Yonadav the son of Rekhav which he ordered his offspring, not to drink wine, are obeyed; so to this day they don't drink any; because they heed their ancestor's order. But I have spoken to you, spoken frequently, and you have not listened to me.

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!

The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and unto this day they drink none, for they obey their father’s commandment. But I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; and ye have not hearkened unto me.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 35:14

Jeremiah 35 presents a striking object lesson orchestrated by God to highlight the stark contrast between the unwavering obedience of the Rechabites and the persistent disobedience of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. The Rechabites were a nomadic clan, descendants of Jonadab (also called Jehonadab), who centuries earlier had commanded his sons not to drink wine, build houses, sow seed, or plant vineyards, but to dwell in tents (Jeremiah 35:6). In this chapter, Jeremiah brings the Rechabites into the temple precincts and offers them wine, which they steadfastly refuse, citing their ancestor's command. Verse 14 is God's direct commentary on this situation, using the Rechabites' faithfulness to condemn Judah's rebellion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unwavering Obedience: The verse emphasizes the remarkable and generational obedience of the Rechabites to their earthly father's commandment. Their faithfulness serves as a powerful testament to the principle of honoring one's word and legacy.
  • Judah's Persistent Disobedience: In stark contrast, God highlights the spiritual deafness of His chosen people, Judah. Despite continuous divine communication, they "hearkened not" to His voice, revealing a deep-seated spiritual rebellion.
  • God's Diligent Calling: The phrase "rising early and speaking" underscores God's immense patience and persistent efforts to reach His people. It signifies His earnest, diligent, and repeated warnings through His prophets, urging them to repent and return to Him. This is a common idiom in prophetic literature for God's tireless pursuit of His people (Jeremiah 7:13, 2 Chronicles 36:15).
  • The Gravity of Neglecting God's Word: The comparison serves as a severe rebuke, indicating that if humans can be so faithful to an ancestral command, how much more should God's people obey the living God, their Creator and Covenant-Keeper. The implication is severe judgment for such neglect.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "rising early and speaking" (Hebrew: הַשְׁכֵּם וְדַבֵּר - hashkem vedabber) is a significant idiomatic expression used frequently in Jeremiah. It literally means "to rise early and speak," but its deeper meaning conveys diligence, earnestness, and persistence. It illustrates God's tireless efforts and deep concern for His people, sending prophets repeatedly and at every opportunity to warn, instruct, and call them back to covenant faithfulness, long before judgment was inevitable.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 35:14 challenges believers today to examine the consistency of their own obedience. If the Rechabites could uphold a human command for generations with such integrity, how much more should followers of Christ strive for unwavering obedience to God's divine commands? This verse reminds us that God is persistent in calling us to Himself and to righteousness. It's a call to honest self-reflection:

  • Are we truly listening to God's Word, or are we selectively hearing what we want?
  • Do we prioritize human traditions or conveniences over clear biblical commands?
  • How consistent is our obedience over time, even when it requires sacrifice or goes against cultural norms?

God's patience is immense, but His call to obedience is serious. The faithfulness of the Rechabites stands as a timeless example and a sobering rebuke, urging us to be responsive to the voice of God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 25:3 (6 votes)

    From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that [is] the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

  • Jeremiah 25:4 (6 votes)

    And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending [them]; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

  • Jeremiah 7:24 (5 votes)

    But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

  • Jeremiah 7:26 (5 votes)

    Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

  • Proverbs 1:20 (5 votes)

    ¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

  • Proverbs 1:33 (5 votes)

    But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

  • Isaiah 30:9 (5 votes)

    That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the LORD: