And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
Parallel translations
- WEB “To this people you shall say, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
- BSB Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
- ESV “And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
- NKJV “Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
- NASB “You shall also say to this people, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
- NLT “Tell all the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: Take your choice of life or death!
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God sets before the people the way of life and the way of death. Even in judgment He offers a path of survival to those who heed Him.
Overview
Echoing the covenant choice of Deuteronomy 30, God graciously offers a way of life amid impending doom. The framing of two ways, life and death, runs throughout Scripture and reappears in the teaching of Jesus, who calls people to the narrow way that leads to life. Even in wrath God remembers mercy, providing a means of deliverance for those willing to humble themselves and obey.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Deut 30:19I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
- Deut 30:15See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
- Deut 11:26Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
- Isa 1:19–20If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 21:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.