New International Version
Jeremiah 6:16
16This 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.’
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.
- 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.’
- New Living Translation (NLT)This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
Context of Jeremiah 6:16
14They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. 15Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord. 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.’ 17I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’ 18Therefore hear, you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to them.
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; they burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths. They made them walk in byways, on roads not built up.
- Deuteronomy 32:7Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.
- Isaiah 8:20Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
- Malachi 4:4“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
- Luke 16:29“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
- John 5:39You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,
- John 5:46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
- Acts 17:11Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
- Romans 4:1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?
- Hebrews 6:12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
- Hebrews 11:2This is what the ancients were commended for.
- Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
- Jeremiah 7:23but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.
- Isaiah 2:5Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
- Isaiah 30:21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
- John 12:35Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever 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
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries