Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.”
Parallel translations
- WEB that Yahweh your God may show us the way in which we should walk, and the thing that we should do.”
- KJV That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
- NKJV that the Lord your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do.”
- NASB that the Lord your God will tell us the way in which we should walk, and the thing that we should do.”
- NLT Pray that the Lord your God will show us what to do and where to go.”
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
They want the LORD to show them the way to walk and what to do. The request is for clear divine direction.
Overview
The remnant asks that God reveal both 'the way' and 'the thing' they should do, seeking specific guidance for their uncertain situation. Such a desire to know and follow God's path is commendable in itself (Ps 25:4-5). The genuine test, however, will be whether they obey the answer once it comes, especially if it contradicts their plans.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ps 86:11Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.
- Prov 3:6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- Mic 4:2And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
- Jer 6:16This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
- Ezra 8:21And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
- Ps 25:4–5Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
- Ps 143:8–10Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.
- Isa 2:3And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
- 1 Kgs 8:36then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.
- Deut 5:26For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived?
- Deut 5:29If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever.
- Mark 12:13–14Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words.
- Ps 27:11Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 42:3 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.