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 tell my people that their wounds are not bad. They say to them, “No problem! You will have peace!” But there will be no peace for my people. 15They are not ashamed of the disgusting things that they do. They do not even know what shame is. They have forgotten how to be ashamed. So they will fall to the ground, as other people have fallen. When I decide to punish them, that will be the end of them.’ That is what the Lord says. The Lord said to his people, ‘Stand at the place where the roads cross, and look carefully. Ask where the ways of your ancestors are. Find the good way, and go along that way. Then you will live in peace.’ But the people said, ‘No, we will not go that way. ’ 17The Lord said, ‘I sent my prophets to warn you of danger. They said, “Listen for the noise of the trumpet! That will tell you when danger is near.” But you said, “We do not want to listen.” 18So listen to me, all you nations. Look carefully! See what will happen to my people.

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 18:15Those things never change, but my people have forgotten me. They offer sacrifices to useless idols. Because of that, they live in a wrong way. They have left the good paths that their ancestors knew. Instead, they walk along narrow paths that nobody takes care of.
• Deuteronomy 32:7Remember what happened a long time ago. Think about the lives of your ancestors. Ask your father or the old men. They will tell you what happened in the past.
• Isaiah 8:20When they say that to you, remember my teaching. Tell them what I have said will happen. People who talk like that are completely in the dark. There is no truth in what they say.
• Malachi 4:4‘Remember the rules that I gave to my servant Moses at Sinai mountain. Those rules and laws were for all the Israelites to obey.
• Luke 16:29Abraham replied, “They have the books that Moses and God's prophets wrote. Your family should read them and do what they say.”
• John 5:39You study carefully what the Bible teaches. You think that those books will give you life with God. And it is true, those books do speak about who I am.
• John 5:46Moses wrote about me. So, if you had really believed Moses, you would believe me.
• Acts 17:11The Jewish people in Berea were better than the people in Thessalonica. They were happy to listen carefully to Paul. Every day they also studied the Bible. They wanted to know if Paul's message was true.
• Romans 4:1Abraham was the ancestor of all of us who are Jews. Think about what he discovered.
• Hebrews 6:12Then you will not be slow to learn. Instead, you will copy the example of those people who continue to trust God. They continue to be patient when trouble happens to them. People like that receive what God has promised to his people.
• Hebrews 11:2It was because of their faith that God said good things about the people of long ago.
• Hebrews 12:1So we have learned about many people who trusted God long ago. They are like a very big crowd all round us and we should copy their example. We must be like people who run in a race. We must throw away everything that stops us from running well. The sins that we do make us fall down very easily. We must not let those sins rule us. God has prepared the way that is in front of us. We must continue to be strong while we run along that way. We must choose to run that race well.
• Jeremiah 7:23I also told them, “Obey me. Then I will be your God, and you will be my people. You must live in the way that I have commanded you. If you do that, you will enjoy your lives.”
• Isaiah 2:5Jacob's family, come now! We need to live in the light that the Lord gives to us.
• Isaiah 30:21You will hear his voice behind you. When you turn off the path, to the right or to the left, it will say, ‘This is the right way. Walk in it.’
• John 12:35Jesus answered, ‘The light will be with you for only a short time longer. So continue to walk while you still have the light. Do that, so that the dark will not come over you. Anyone who walks in the dark does not know where they are 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