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.
JEREMIAH 35:14KJVWhat does Jeremiah 35:14 mean?
Jeremiah 35:14 points out that the descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab have faithfully obeyed their ancestor’s command not to drink wine, while the people of Judah have ignored God’s repeated instructions. The verse highlights the contrast between human loyalty to family tradition and the people’s lack of response to God’s own words.
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. The situation involves the Rechabites, a group who strictly followed their ancestor’s command not to drink wine, as a living example of obedience. God uses their faithfulness to show how much more the people of Judah should have listened to Him, since He has persistently spoken to them (“rising early and speaking”), but they have not paid attention.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 35:14
- דִּבְרֵי (divrei, “words”): This word refers to the instructions or commands given by Jonadab. The verse draws a direct comparison between the “words” of a human ancestor and the “words” of God, emphasizing whose commands are actually being followed.
- שָׁמַע (shamaʿ, “obey” or “hearken”): Used here for both the Rechabites’ obedience to Jonadab and Judah’s failure to listen to God. The same word highlights the different responses to authority—faithful obedience to a human, but not to God.
- הַשְׁכֵּם (hashkem, “rising early”): This phrase means God has been persistent and diligent in sending His messages, not just speaking once but making repeated efforts to reach the people.
- צִוָּה (tsivvah, “commanded”): This word is used for Jonadab’s instruction to his sons, showing the seriousness with which the Rechabites treated their ancestor’s command.
Why Jeremiah 35:14 matters
- Jeremiah 35:14 clears up the idea that the people of Judah lacked examples of obedience; the Rechabites’ faithfulness is used as a living proof that obedience is possible.
- The verse emphasizes how God’s repeated and patient communication (“rising early and speaking”) makes Judah’s disobedience even more striking and inexcusable.
- This verse connects to the larger message of Jeremiah 35, where the obedience of the Rechabites is contrasted with Judah’s stubbornness, highlighting the importance of listening to God’s voice above all others.