Jeremiah 35:9
New International Version
or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops.

New Living Translation
We haven’t built houses or owned vineyards or farms or planted crops.

English Standard Version
and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed,

Berean Standard Bible
Nor have we built houses in which to live, and we have not owned any vineyards or fields or crops.

King James Bible
Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

New King James Version
nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed.

New American Standard Bible
nor to build ourselves houses to live in; and we do not have a vineyard, a field, or seed.

NASB 1995
nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; and we do not have vineyard or field or seed.

NASB 1977
nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; and we do not have vineyard or field or seed.

Legacy Standard Bible
nor to build ourselves houses to inhabit; and we do not have vineyard or field or seed.

Amplified Bible
nor have we built ourselves houses to live in; nor do we have vineyards or fields or seed.

Christian Standard Bible
We also have not built houses to live in and do not have vineyard, field, or seed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
We also have not built houses to live in and do not have vineyard, field, or seed.

American Standard Version
nor to build houses for us to dwell in; neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

English Revised Version
nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
built houses to live in, or owned vineyards, pastures, or grainfields.

International Standard Version
and have built no houses to live in. We don't have vineyards, fields, or seed.

Majority Standard Bible
Nor have we built houses in which to live, and we have not owned any vineyards or fields or crops.

NET Bible
We have not built any houses to live in. We do not own any vineyards, fields, or crops.

New Heart English Bible
nor to build houses for us to dwell in; neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

Webster's Bible Translation
Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

World English Bible
and not to build houses for ourselves to dwell in. We have no vineyard, field, or seed;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
nor to build houses to dwell in; and we have no vineyard, and field, and seed;

Young's Literal Translation
nor to build houses for our dwelling; and vineyard, and field, and seed, we have none;

Smith's Literal Translation
Not to build houses for our dwelling; and vineyard and field and seed shall not be to us.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Nor to build houses to dwell in, nor to have vineyard, or field, or seed:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And we do not build houses in which to live. And we do not have vineyard, or field, or seed to sow.

New American Bible
not building houses to live in; not owning vineyards or fields or crops.

New Revised Standard Version
and not to build houses to live in. We have no vineyard or field or seed;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Nor to build houses for ourselves to dwell in; neither to have vineyards nor fields nor seed;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And we shall not build houses to dwell in, and we shall not have vineyards or fields or seed
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
nor to build houses for us to dwell in, neither to have vineyard, or field, or seed;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and so as to build no houses to dwell in: and we have had no vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Obedience of the Rechabites
8And 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. 9Nor have we built houses in which to live, and we have not owned any vineyards or fields or crops. 10But we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done exactly as our forefather Jonadab commanded us.…

Cross References
Leviticus 10:9
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.

Numbers 6:2-3
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, / he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.

Judges 13:4-5
Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean. / For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:15
“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.

Amos 2:12
“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

Luke 1:15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Matthew 11:18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’

Romans 14:21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

1 Timothy 3:3
not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

1 Timothy 3:8
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

Titus 1:7
As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.

Titus 2:3
Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good.

1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.


Treasury of Scripture

Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

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.

Numbers 16:14
Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

2 Kings 5:26
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

Jump to Previous
Build Building Built Crops Dwell Dwelling Field Fields Houses Live Ourselves Seed Vine-Gardens Vineyard Vineyards
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Build Building Built Crops Dwell Dwelling Field Fields Houses Live Ourselves Seed Vine-Gardens Vineyard Vineyards
Jeremiah 35
1. By the obedience of the Rechabites,
12. Jeremiah condemns the disobedience of the Jews.
18. God blesses the Rechabites for their obedience.














Nor have we built houses in which to live
The Rechabites, to whom this verse refers, were a nomadic group descended from Jonadab, son of Rechab. Their lifestyle was a direct result of Jonadab's command to live as sojourners, avoiding permanent settlements. This reflects a commitment to a life of simplicity and separation from the Canaanite practices that often led to idolatry. The Rechabites' refusal to build houses symbolizes their dedication to a transient lifestyle, reminiscent of the Israelites' time in the wilderness, which fostered reliance on God. This lifestyle choice can be seen as a physical manifestation of spiritual values, emphasizing dependence on God rather than material security.

and we have not owned any vineyards or fields or crops
The Rechabites' abstention from owning vineyards, fields, or crops further underscores their commitment to a nomadic and ascetic lifestyle. In ancient Israel, agriculture was a primary means of sustenance and wealth, and owning land was a sign of stability and prosperity. By rejecting these, the Rechabites distanced themselves from the agricultural practices that could lead to assimilation with surrounding nations and their idolatrous customs. This choice also aligns with the Nazirite vow, which included abstaining from wine, symbolizing purity and dedication to God. The Rechabites' lifestyle serves as a prophetic critique of Israel's tendency to forsake God for material wealth and idolatry, calling them back to faithfulness and reliance on God alone.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah, often warning them of impending judgment due to their disobedience.

2. Rechabites
A nomadic clan descended from Rechab, known for their strict adherence to the commands of their ancestor Jonadab, including abstaining from wine and living in tents rather than permanent homes.

3. Jonadab son of Rechab
An ancestor of the Rechabites who commanded his descendants to live a nomadic lifestyle, avoiding wine and permanent settlements, as a way to maintain their distinct identity and obedience to God.

4. Jerusalem
The city where Jeremiah delivered his messages and where the Rechabites were brought to test their faithfulness to their ancestral commands.

5. Babylonian Threat
The looming threat of Babylonian invasion served as a backdrop for the events in Jeremiah 35, highlighting the contrast between the Rechabites' faithfulness and Judah's disobedience.
Teaching Points
Obedience to Godly Heritage
The Rechabites' adherence to their ancestor's commands serves as a model for honoring and maintaining a godly heritage. We should value and uphold the spiritual legacies passed down to us.

Living as Pilgrims
Like the Rechabites, Christians are called to live as pilgrims and strangers in this world, prioritizing spiritual values over material possessions and comforts.

Faithfulness in Testing
The Rechabites' faithfulness under testing by Jeremiah is a reminder that our commitment to God may be tested, and we should remain steadfast in our convictions.

Contrast with Disobedience
The Rechabites' obedience highlights the disobedience of Judah, reminding us that God values obedience over ritualistic practices or empty professions of faith.

Simplicity and Contentment
The Rechabites' lifestyle encourages us to embrace simplicity and contentment, focusing on spiritual growth rather than accumulating material wealth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Nor have we
וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י (ū·lə·ḇil·tî)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

built
בְּנ֥וֹת (bə·nō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1129: To build

houses
בָּתִּ֖ים (bāt·tîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1004: A house

to live in
לְשִׁבְתֵּ֑נוּ (lə·šiḇ·tê·nū)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

[or]
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

had
יִֽהְיֶה־ (yih·yeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

vineyards,
וְכֶ֧רֶם (wə·ḵe·rem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3754: A garden, vineyard

fields,
וְשָׂדֶ֛ה (wə·śā·ḏeh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

or crops.
וָזֶ֖רַע (wā·ze·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 35:9 Nor to build houses for us (Jer.)
Jeremiah 35:8
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