Jeremiah 6:16

Jeremiah 6:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
• New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Context of Jeremiah 6:16

14They have treated my people’s brokenness superficially, claiming, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. 15Were they ashamed when they acted so detestably? They weren’t at all ashamed. They can no longer feel humiliation. Therefore, they will fall among the fallen. When I punish them, they will collapse, says the Lord. This is what the Lord says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths, “Which is the way to what is good?” Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested, “We won’t!” 17I appointed watchmen over you and said, “Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.” But they protested, “We won’t listen!” 18Therefore listen, you nations and you witnesses, learn what the charge is against them.

Jeremiah 6:16 word by word

כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ׀ לִנְתִב֣וֹת עוֹלָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטּוֹב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגּ֖וֹעַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• ye in the waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
• and seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• and askשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• for the oldעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: antiquityH5769
• pathsנְתִיבָהnâthîyb nethîybâh nethibâh · pathH5410
• the goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• and walkיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• therein, and ye shall findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• restמַרְגּוֹעַmargôa‛ · restH4771
• for your soulsנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315

Cross-references for Jeremiah 6:16

• Jeremiah 18:15Yet my people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble in their ways on the ancient roads, and make them walk on new paths, not the highway.
• Deuteronomy 32:7Remember the days of old; consider the years of past generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you.
• Isaiah 8:20Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.
• Malachi 4:4“Remember the instruction of Moses my servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
• Luke 16:29“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
• John 5:39You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.
• John 5:46For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.
• Acts 17:11The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
• Romans 4:1What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
• Hebrews 6:12so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
• Hebrews 11:2For by this our ancestors were approved.
• Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
• Jeremiah 7:23However, I did give them this command: ‘Obey me, and then I will be your God, and you will be my people. Follow every way I command you so that it may go well with you.’
• Isaiah 2:5House of Jacob, come and let’s walk in the Lord’s light.
• Isaiah 30:21and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”
• John 12:35Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 6:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see - Let us observe the metaphor. A traveler is going to a particular city; he comes to a place where the road divides into several paths, he is afraid of going astray; he stops short, - endeavors to find out the right path: he cannot fix his choice. At last he sees another traveler; he inquires of him, gets proper directions - proceeds on his journey - arrives at the desired place - and reposes after his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-17Verses 9-17 When the Lord arises to take vengeance, no sinners of any age or rank, or of either sex escape. They were set upon the world, and wholly carried away by the love of it. If we judge of this sin by God's word, we find multitudes in every station and rank given up to it. Those are to be reckoned our worst and most dangerous enemies, who flatter us in a sinful way. Oh that men would be wise for their souls! Ask for the old paths; the way of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Following God's ancient laws (Malachi 4:4) would bring peace to people's souls (compare Matthew 11:29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Image from travellers who have lost their road, stopping and inquiring which is the right way on which they once had been, but from which they have wandered. old paths--Idolatry and apostasy are the modern way; the worship of God the old way. Evil is not coeval with good, but a modern degeneracy from good. The forsaking of God is not, in a true sense, a "way cast up" at all (Jr 18:15; Psa 139:24; Mal 4:4). rest--(Is 28:12; Mt 11:29).Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 6:16

• Backsliders
• Impenitence
• Repentance
• Walking
• Way

In the dictionaries

• Cruel
• Mount
• Reprobate
• Wallow
• Jeremiah (2)
• Sheshach
• soul, self

Commentaries on Jeremiah 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings