That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may 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.”
- BSB Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should 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 thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
- Prov 3:6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
- Mic 4:2And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
- Jer 6:16Thus 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.
- Ezra 8:21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
- Ps 25:4–5Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
- Ps 143:8–10Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
- Isa 2:3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
- 1 Kgs 8:36Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.
- Deut 5:26For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
- Deut 5:29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
- Mark 12:13–14And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
- Ps 27:11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.