Jeremiah 42:6

Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The remnant leaders address Jeremiah, pledging to follow whatever message God delivers through him. This statement follows their oath in verse 5 and precedes God’s response after ten days in verse 7.

The words — The text employs אִם־טוֹב וְאִם־רָע ('im-tov ve-'im-ra), which the supplied parsing defines as "whether good and/or bad." These terms anchor their declaration to the voice of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ ("the LORD our God").

The thread — The linkage between obedience and well-being runs in Deuteronomy 5:29 and Jeremiah 7:23, while the contrast with human resistance appears in Romans 8:7.

Why it lands — The verse states a commitment to obey regardless of outcome before asserting that obedience will bring prosperity. It requires a reader to test whether their own obedience depends on favorable circumstances or remains fixed on the command itself.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 7:23 but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.
Deuteronomy 5:29 If 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.
Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
Deuteronomy 5:33 You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Deuteronomy 6:2 so that you and your children and grandchildren may fear the LORD your God all the days of your lives by keeping all His statutes and commandments that I give you, and so that your days may be prolonged.
Exodus 24:7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”
Joshua 24:24 So the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice.”
Psalms 81:13 If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
Psalms 128:2 For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.