רֵכָבִי (re.kha.vi)
re.kha.vi
Rechabite; Recah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun rekhavi identifies a member of the Rechabite clan, a group named after their ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab. The term functions as a gentilic, meaning it denotes origin or residence rather than a specific profession or status. Lexical sources indicate that the name likely derives from Rechar, a place in Judah, possibly identified with the village of Rashiah located a few miles south of Jerusalem.
This clan appears most prominently in the book of Jeremiah, where their strict adherence to Jonadab’s command not to drink wine serves as a powerful object lesson for Judah’s leaders. The contrast is sharp: while the nation repeatedly broke its covenant with God, the Rechabites faithfully kept a human tradition passed down through generations. Their obedience highlights the seriousness of divine commands by showing that people can remain steadfast in lesser matters.
The historical record also places them in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles, linking them to the tribe of Judah. By preserving their distinct identity and customs, they became a living reminder of covenant faithfulness. The word itself carries no theological weight beyond identifying this specific family line, yet its biblical usage transforms it into a symbol of reliability.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Rechabite points to a specific family line known for keeping promises. In Jeremiah’s time, these men refused wine because their ancestor Jonadab had commanded it centuries earlier. Their strict loyalty to this human rule stood in sharp contrast to Judah’s repeated breaking of God’s covenant. This story reminds us that faithfulness in small, personal commitments reflects a heart ready for greater trust.
For your daily walk, this offers a gentle invitation to examine where you keep your word. Do you honor the quiet promises you make to others and to God? The Rechabites show that consistency builds character. When we are reliable in ordinary things, we create space for deeper spiritual growth. Their example is not about legalism, but about the integrity that comes from remembering who we are and what we value.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Rechabites4×
- Recah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רֵכָֽה\׃\ \ס1×
- הָ/רֵכָבִים֒1×
- הָ/רֵכָבִֽים\׃1×
- הָ/רֵכָבִ֜ים1×
- הָ/רֵכָבִ֗ים1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 35:2
“Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into Yahweh’s house, into one of the rooms, and give them wine to drink.”
This verse sets up the divine test where God uses Jeremiah to challenge the Rechabites’ commitment to their ancestor’s rule.
-
Jeremiah 35:5
I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine!”
Here, the physical presence of wine highlights the Rechabites’ immediate and unified refusal to drink, demonstrating their discipline.
-
Jeremiah 35:18
Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he commanded you,’
God explicitly praises their obedience to Jonadab, using their human loyalty as a mirror to reveal Judah’s failure to obey divine commands.