Jeremiah 42:3

3 that 1the LORD your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do."

Jeremiah 42:3 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 42:3

That the Lord thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk,
&c.] Not the way of their duty as to religious worship, or their moral conversation, which was the way of God's commandments, and had been shown them, and they knew it; but which way they should steer their course for their safety; they had departed from Mizpah of themselves, and had taken up their dwelling at Geruthchimham, in the way to Egypt; whither they had set their faces, and where their hearts were, only they wanted the Lord's sanction for it, pretending they would be directed by him: and the thing that we should do;
the steps they should take in order to proceed; and what they should do before they left their own country, and went into another.

Jeremiah 42:3 In-Context

1 Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, came near
2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Let our plea for mercy come before you, and pray to the LORD your God for us, for all this remnant--because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us--
3 that the LORD your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do."
4 Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the LORD your God according to your request, and whatever the LORD answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you."
5 Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the LORD your God sends you to us.

Cross References 1

  • 1. [Jeremiah 37:17; Ezra 8:21]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.