Bible Strands
Jeremiah 35:14
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!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks through Jeremiah to the men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem, contrasting the Rechabites' strict adherence to a human command with Israel's repeated failure to obey His own words.
The words — הוּקַ֡ם (hu.Kam) translates to "it was carried out," describing how the Rechabites fulfilled their ancestor's directive, while צִוָּ֨ה (tzi.Vah) means "he commanded," marking the authoritative instruction that was kept.
The thread — This pattern of repeated divine warning met with stubborn refusal appears in Jeremiah 25:3, where the Lord notes the long duration of His prophetic messages, and in Isaiah 30:9, which labels the people as children unwilling to obey instruction.
Why it lands — The text demands a direct comparison between the Rechabites' obedience to a forefather's command and Judah's disobedience to God's repeated words, requiring the reader to confront their own response to divine instruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 25:3 “From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—twenty-three years—the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
- Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
- Isaiah 30:9 These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.
- Isaiah 50:2 Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.
- Jeremiah 7:13 And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer,
- Jeremiah 7:24 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
- Jeremiah 11:7 For from the time I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt until today, I strongly warned them again and again, saying, ‘Obey My voice.’
- 2 Chronicles 36:15 Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place.
- Nehemiah 9:26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.
- Nehemiah 9:30 You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they would not listen, so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.