that the Lord your God may show us the way in which 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.
- BSB Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way 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, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.
- Prov 3:6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
- Mic 4:2Many nations will go and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, 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 will go out of Zion, and Yahweh’s word from Jerusalem;
- Jer 6:16Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
- Ezra 8:21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our possessions.
- Ps 25:4–5Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths.
- Ps 143:8–10Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
- Isa 2:3Many peoples shall go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh, 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 the law shall go out, and Yahweh’s word from Jerusalem.
- 1 Kgs 8:36then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.
- Deut 5:26For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the middle of the fire, as we have, and lived?
- Deut 5:29Oh that there were such a 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 forever!
- Mark 12:13–14They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
- Ps 27:11Teach me your way, Yahweh. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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.