Jeremiah 35:7
Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.
Original Language Analysis
וּבַ֣יִת
house
H1004
וּבַ֣יִת
house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
1 of 28
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
2 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִבְנ֗וּ
Neither shall ye build
H1129
תִבְנ֗וּ
Neither shall ye build
Strong's:
H1129
Word #:
3 of 28
to build (literally and figuratively)
וְזֶ֤רַע
seed
H2233
וְזֶ֤רַע
seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
4 of 28
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִזְרָ֙עוּ֙
nor sow
H2232
תִזְרָ֙עוּ֙
nor sow
Strong's:
H2232
Word #:
6 of 28
to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִטָּ֔עוּ
nor plant
H5193
תִטָּ֔עוּ
nor plant
Strong's:
H5193
Word #:
9 of 28
properly, to strike in, i.e., fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively)
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
10 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִֽהְיֶ֖ה
H1961
יִֽהְיֶ֖ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
11 of 28
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִּ֠י
H3588
כִּ֠י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
13 of 28
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בָּאֳהָלִ֤ים
in tents
H168
בָּאֳהָלִ֤ים
in tents
Strong's:
H168
Word #:
14 of 28
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙
ye shall dwell
H3427
תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙
ye shall dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
15 of 28
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 28
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יָמִ֤ים
days
H3117
יָמִ֤ים
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
17 of 28
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
לְמַ֨עַן
H4616
לְמַ֨עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
18 of 28
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
תִּֽחְי֜וּ
that ye may live
H2421
תִּֽחְי֜וּ
that ye may live
Strong's:
H2421
Word #:
19 of 28
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
יָמִ֤ים
days
H3117
יָמִ֤ים
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
20 of 28
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
רַבִּים֙
many
H7227
רַבִּים֙
many
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
21 of 28
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
22 of 28
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֣י
in
H6440
פְּנֵ֣י
in
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
23 of 28
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
25 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Historical Context
Jonadab ben Rechab (2 Kings 10:15-23) allied with Jehu circa 841 BC, supporting the purge of Baal worship. His descendants maintained his separatist vows for over 250 years—from Jehu's era to Jeremiah's ministry (607-586 BC), an unprecedented faithfulness spanning ten generations through Israel's worst apostasy.
Questions for Reflection
- What forms of 'settlement' (comfort, security, possessions) might hinder your pilgrim identity as a sojourner for Christ?
- How does the Rechabites' 250-year obedience to a human ancestor expose your inconsistency in obeying your heavenly Father?
- In what ways does pursuing 'vineyard Christianity' (prosperity, roots, permanence) contradict the call to 'tent-dwelling' (sacrifice, pilgrimage, heavenly citizenship)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard—The mitzvah (command) of Jonadab ben Rechab prescribed radical non-settlement, rejecting agriculture (זֶרַע zera', seed) and viticulture (כֶּרֶם kerem, vineyard) as symbols of permanent settlement. Dwell in tents (אֹהָלִים ohalim) echoes Israel's wilderness pilgrimage, maintaining stranger-consciousness (גֵּרִים gerim).
This ascetic vow wasn't arbitrary primitivism but theological protest: permanent settlement breeds spiritual complacency. The Rechabites embodied Hebrews 11:13—"strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Their obedience over 250+ years becomes God's indictment of Judah's covenant-breaking (v. 16). Where Judah possessed vineyards yet served idols, the Rechabites renounced vineyards to serve Yahweh.