Person Old Testament
Rechab
Also known as Rechab =ESV, KJV; Rekab =NIV, Rechabite =ESV, KJV; Rekabite =NIV
Rechab was the ancestor of the Rechabites, a nomadic tribe known for their faithfulness to God's commands. Mentioned in 12 verses across 3 books, first at 2 Kings 10:15.
Why it matters. Ancestor of the Rechabites, who were faithful to God
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Rechab
Rechab was the father of Jehonadab (2Ki.10.15) and the ancestor of the Rechabites, a nomadic tribe known for their strict adherence to God's commands (Jeremiah 35). The Rechabites were descendants of the Kenites, who were associated with the Israelites since the time of Moses (Jdg.1.16). Jehonadab, son of Rechab, supported Jehu in his purge of Baal worship in Israel (2Ki.10.15-23). The Rechabites were known for their obedience to the commands of their ancestor Jonadab, which included abstaining from wine, not building houses, not sowing seed, and not planting vineyards (Jer.35.6-7). When the prophet Jeremiah tested their obedience by offering them wine, they refused, demonstrating their commitment to their ancestral vows (Jer.35.1-11). God commended the Rechabites for their faithfulness and promised that they would always have a descendant to serve Him (Jer.35.18-19). The example of the Rechabites stands as a model of obedience and devotion to God in the midst of a society that had largely abandoned His ways.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
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Family
Family links from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0). Where the dataset marks an identification as uncertain, the mark is kept. Matthew and Luke give different genealogies for Jesus; see the Lineage page, which never merges them.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 12 verses across 3 books. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.