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Jeremiah 42:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 42:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “that Jehovah thy God may show us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing that we should do.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

that Jehovah thy God may show us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing that we should do.
Jeremiah 42:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 42

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,
2and said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we pray thee, our supplication be presented before thee, and pray for us unto Jehovah thy God, even for all this remnant; for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:
3that Jehovah thy God may show us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing that we should do.
4Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto Jehovah your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass that whatsoever thing Jehovah shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
5Then they said to Jeremiah, Jehovah be a true and faithful witness amongst us, if we do not according to all the word wherewith Jehovah thy God shall send thee to us.
6Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of Jehovah our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of Jehovah our God.
← Jeremiah 42:2Jeremiah 42:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“That the Lord thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk, etc.] 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…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They consulted God, like many, not so much to know what was right, as wishing Him to authorize what they had already determined on, whether agreeable to His will or not. So Ahab in consulting Micaiah (Kg1 22:13). Compare Jeremiah's answer (Jer 42:4) with Micaiah's (Kg1 22:14).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Jer 6:16; Deu 5:26, Deu 5:29; Kg1 8:36; Ezr 8:21; Psa 25:4, Psa 25:5, Psa 27:11, Psa 86:11; Psa 143:8-10; Pro 3:6; Isa 2:3; Mic 4:2; Mar 12:13, Mar 12:14 Jeremiah 42:4”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 42 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification