King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 35:1 Mean?

Jeremiah 35:1 in the King James Version says “The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 35 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,”

Jeremiah 35:1 · KJV

Context

1

The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,

2

Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.

3

Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;

Read Jeremiah 35 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim—this narrative is chronologically displaced; Jeremiah 35 occurred during Jehoiakim's reign (609-598 BCE), before the Zedekiah events of chapter 34 (588-586 BCE). Jeremiah's editor arranged material thematically rather than chronologically, juxtaposing Rechabite faithfulness (ch. 35) against Judah's covenant breaking (ch. 34) for maximum contrast. This literary structure itself preaches: one family's multi-generational obedience to a human ancestor's command condemns a nation's disobedience to God's repeated commands.

The prophet's name appears again: Yirmeyahu ("Yahweh exalts/establishes"), highlighting that human messengers receive divine authority when conveying God's word. Jeremiah didn't speak his opinions—the word... came unto Jeremiah from the LORD. The passive construction emphasizes divine initiative; prophets receive revelation, not generate it. This guards biblical authority—Scripture's origin is God's speech, not human insight (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Jehoiakim's reign provides crucial context for understanding chapter 35's message. He was an evil king who burned Jeremiah's scroll (36:23), murdered the prophet Urijah (26:20-23), and oppressed his own people (22:13-17). In this morally corrupt environment, the Rechabites' counter-cultural obedience shone brightly, condemning the nation by comparison. God uses the faithful to judge the faithless—their very existence becomes prophetic witness.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jehoiakim (609-598 BCE) was installed by Egypt's Pharaoh Necho after deposing his brother Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:34). He paid heavy tribute to Egypt, taxing Judah oppressively to fund it. When Babylon defeated Egypt at Carchemish (605 BCE), Jehoiakim became Babylon's reluctant vassal. His reign was characterized by injustice, idolatry, and rejection of prophetic warning. The Rechabite incident likely occurred during early Babylonian raids (around 602-600 BCE) when they fled the countryside for Jerusalem's protection.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why might God arrange Scripture thematically rather than chronologically, and how should this affect interpretation?
  2. How does the faithfulness of godly minorities in corrupt societies function as implicit judgment on the majority?
  3. In what ways does emphasizing that 'the word came FROM the LORD' protect against distorting Scripture to match personal preferences?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
הַדָּבָ֛ר1 of 14

“The word”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

אֲשֶׁר2 of 14
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הָיָ֥ה3 of 14
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

אֶֽל4 of 14
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ5 of 14

“which came unto Jeremiah”

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

מֵאֵ֣ת6 of 14
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְהוָ֑ה7 of 14

“from the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בִּימֵ֨י8 of 14

“in the days”

H3117

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

יְהוֹיָקִ֧ים9 of 14

“of Jehoiakim”

H3079

jehojakim, a jewish king

בֶּן10 of 14

“the son”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יֹאשִׁיָּ֛הוּ11 of 14

“of Josiah”

H2977

joshijah, the name of two israelites

מֶ֥לֶךְ12 of 14

“king”

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָ֖ה13 of 14

“of Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

לֵאמֹֽר׃14 of 14

“saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 35:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 35:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 1:3Jeremiah 25:12 Kings 23:35Daniel 1:12 Kings 24:1-6Jeremiah 26:1

Test Your Knowledge

Jeremiah 35 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJeremiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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