Jeremiah 6:16 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.
Jeremiah 6:16 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.'
Jeremiah 6:16 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.'
Jeremiah 6:16 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.'
Jeremiah 6:16 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!'
Jeremiah 6 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 6:15 | "Were they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they were not ashamed at all; they could not even blush. So they will be overthrown with the rest. They will be punished, because they have sinned against the LORD." | Obedience, Shame |
| Deuteronomy 28:65 | "Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. The LORD will give you there an anxious heart, eyes grown dim with longing, and a soul pining with sickness." | Lack of Rest, Divine Judgment |
| Proverbs 22:5 | "The path of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what they will stumble over." | Wickedness, Hidden Danger |
| Isaiah 3:11 | "Woe to the wicked! Calamity will befall them, for they will be dealt with according to what their hands have done." | Judgment, Consequences |
| Luke 11:33 | "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a hidden place or under a basket. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light." | Light, Truth |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" | Jesus as the Way |
| Psalm 16:11 | "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." | Path of Life, Joy |
| Proverbs 16:3 | "Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed." | Trusting God, Success |
| Jeremiah 18:15 | "Yet my people have forgotten me; they burn incense to false gods. They made them stumble in their ways, ancient paths, to follow overgrown trails, a road not built up." | Forgetting God, Straying |
| Romans 3:16 | "Disaster and destruction are in their paths," | Destructive Paths |
| Amos 5:13 | "Therefore the prudent will keep quiet in such a time, for it is an evil time." | Prudence, Difficult Times |
| Matthew 7:13 | "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." | Broad Path to Destruction |
| Jeremiah 7:23 | "But this is what I commanded them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.'" | Obedience, Divine Promise |
| Micah 6:8 | "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." | Righteous Actions |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." | God Provides a Way |
| Proverbs 4:26 | "Consider the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure." | Wise Conduct |
| Joshua 1:8 | "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." | Meditating on Law, Success |
| Romans 6:16 | "Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" | Obedience, Righteousness |
| Hebrews 12:1 | "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily ensnares, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." | Running the Race |
| Acts 2:28 | "‘In those days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." | Divine Promises, New Era |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." | Fruit of the Spirit |
Jeremiah 6 verses
Jeremiah 6 16 Meaning
This verse presents a stark choice for the people of Jerusalem: to find rest and stability by following the established, righteous paths, or to face destruction by adhering to their stubborn ways. It emphasizes that true peace and security are found in obedience to God's commands and traditions.
Jeremiah 6 16 Context
Jeremiah 6:16 occurs within a broader prophecy denouncing the sinfulness of Judah, particularly Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem, despite repeated warnings from Jeremiah, continued in their idolatry, injustice, and self-deception. God, through Jeremiah, is conveying His imminent judgment upon the city for its persistent disobedience. This verse is a direct consequence of the preceding verse, which speaks of their shamelessness and sin. The chapter highlights the futility of external religious practices without inner righteousness and obedience. The historical context is the period leading up to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. The nation was under severe spiritual and moral decay, ignoring the prophetic voice and clinging to false hopes and traditions that had become detached from their spiritual meaning.
Jeremiah 6 16 Word Analysis
- "Stand ye": (Hebrew: עִמְדוּ - imdu) - A strong imperative, commanding a firm posture. It suggests establishing oneself, taking a firm position.
- "in the ways": (Hebrew: בַּדְּרָכִים - ba-derakim) - Plural, referring to distinct paths or methods of living. It signifies the various roads of conduct and life choices available.
- "old": (Hebrew: עַל - al) - In this context, not necessarily age but established, ancient, traditional. It speaks of well-trodden paths.
- "ancient": (Hebrew: יְשָׁנָה - yeshanah) - Meaning old, worn out, enduring. It refers to time-tested ways, the traditions passed down.
- "and ask": (Hebrew: וִשְׁאָלוּ - wish'alu) - A command to inquire, to seek out. It implies a diligent effort to find and understand.
- "which": (Hebrew: מִיהוּ - mihu) - Literally "who is he," but here it functions to inquire about the "right" way, the good way.
- "way": (Hebrew: דֶּרֶךְ - derekh) - Singular here, emphasizing a specific, good path.
- "was good": (Hebrew: טוֹבָה - tovah) - Good, pleasing, beneficial. It refers to a path that yields positive results, prosperity, and divine favor.
- "and walk": (Hebrew: וְהִתְהַלְּכוּ - wehit-hallekhu) - Another imperative, commanding continuation in that path, a way of life.
- "in it": (Hebrew: בָּהּ - bah) - Referring back to the "good way" that was identified.
- "and ye shall find": (Hebrew: וּמְצָא-תֶם - umetzatem) - The promise of discovery, finding something beneficial.
- "rest": (Hebrew: מְנוּחָה - menuḥah) - Repose, cessation from labor or distress, tranquility. It speaks of peace and security.
- "for your soul": (Hebrew: לְנַפְשְׁכֶם - lenaphshekhem) - For your inner self, your very being. It highlights profound, internal rest.
- "but they said": (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyomeru) - Indicating a refusal or disregard for the instruction.
- "we will not walk": (Hebrew: לֹא נֵלֵךְ - lo nelekh) - A direct rejection of the path.
Group of Words Analysis
- "Stand ye in the ways, and mark": This is a call to pause and intentionally observe the different paths available, discerning which one aligns with divine wisdom. The "ways" encompass lifestyle choices and adherence to God's commands.
- "the ancient paths": This refers to the foundational, time-tested principles and statutes given by God, originally established by Him for His people. These are the paths of righteousness and faithfulness.
- "Which was good": The crucial discernment. Is the path aligned with God's character and His covenant commands?
- "Walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls": This is the promise attached to obedience. Genuine rest, deep tranquility and well-being, is a direct result of adhering to God's prescribed path. It’s not just external peace, but an inner peace that comes from alignment with divine will.
- "But they said, We will not walk therein": This signifies a deliberate rebellion, a stubborn refusal to accept God's wisdom and embrace the path that leads to life and rest. They rejected the true "ancient paths" in favor of their own corrupt ways.
Jeremiah 6 16 Bonus Section
This verse implicitly critiques the superficial religiosity of Jerusalem. They likely maintained outward religious practices but had strayed from the underlying principles of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. The "ancient paths" were not merely traditions, but the embodiment of God's covenant requirements. The people's refusal to walk in them meant they were not finding true rest but were on a path leading to national catastrophe. The spiritual application is that true peace and purpose are found not in innovation or personal preference, but in aligning oneself with the timeless truths of God's Word and living in obedience to His commands. This is a continuous call to examine our own lives: are we walking in the ways that God has "good" and enduring, or are we choosing paths that lead away from Him?
Jeremiah 6 16 Commentary
Jeremiah 6:16 presents a pivotal exhortation to discern and adhere to the righteous paths that God established from the beginning. The prophet urges Jerusalem to pause and evaluate their conduct, distinguishing between the old, established ways of obedience and the newer, destructive ways they had embraced. The verse highlights that true and lasting rest, a deep sense of peace and security, is found by walking in these God-ordained paths. However, it immediately follows with their defiant refusal to do so. This defiance, a recurring theme with Israel, led to their downfall. The verse encapsulates the core of prophetic warning: choose life by obeying God's revealed will, or choose destruction by continuing in rebellion and self-will. The contrast between "good" paths leading to "rest" and their chosen paths leading to destruction underscores God's loving provision and humanity's tragic tendency to reject it.