New English Translation
Jeremiah 6:16
16The Lord said to his people: “You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not follow it!”
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 offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’ But everything is not all right! 15Are they ashamed because they have done such shameful things? No, they are not at all ashamed. They do not even know how to blush! So they will die, just like others have died. They will be brought to ruin when I punish them,” says the Lord. The Lord said to his people: “You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not follow it!” 17The Lord said, “I appointed prophets as watchmen to warn you, saying: ‘Pay attention to the warning sound of the trumpet!’” But they said, “We will not pay attention!” 18So the Lord said, “Hear, you nations! Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people.
Read all of Jeremiah 6Jeremiah 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 and offered sacrifices to worthless idols! This makes them stumble along in the way they live and leave the old reliable path of their fathers. They have left them to walk in bypaths, in roads that are not smooth and level.
- Deuteronomy 32:7Remember the ancient days; bear in mind the years of past generations. Ask your father and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you.
- Isaiah 8:20Then you must recall the Lord’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened.
- Malachi 4:4“Remember the law of my servant Moses, to whom at Horeb I gave rules and regulations for all Israel to obey.
- Luke 16:29But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’
- John 5:39You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me,
- John 5:46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.
- Acts 17:11These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.
- Romans 4:1What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter?
- Hebrews 6:12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.
- Hebrews 11:2For by it the people of old received God’s commendation.
- Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,
- Jeremiah 7:23I also explicitly commanded them: “Obey me. If you do, I will be your God and you will be my people. Live exactly the way I tell you and things will go well with you.”
- Isaiah 2:5O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lord’s guiding light.
- Isaiah 30:21You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, “This is the correct way, walk in it,” whether you are heading to the right or the left.
- John 12:35Jesus replied, “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is 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
In the dictionaries
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
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