Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’? New Living Translation “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ English Standard Version “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? Berean Standard Bible Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? King James Bible Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? New King James Version “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’? New American Standard Bible “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker— A piece of pottery among the other earthenware pottery pieces! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’? NASB 1995 “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker— An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands ‘? NASB 1977 “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker— An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’? Legacy Standard Bible “Woe to the one who contends with his Maker— An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’? Amplified Bible “Woe (judgment is coming) to him who quarrels with his Maker— A [worthless] piece of broken pottery among other broken pieces [equally worthless]! Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or does the thing say, ‘He has no hands’? Christian Standard Bible “Woe to the one who argues with his Maker — one clay pot among many. Does clay say to the one forming it, ‘What are you making? ’ Or does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? Holman Christian Standard Bible Woe to the one who argues with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does clay say to the one forming it, What are you making? Or does your work say, He has no hands? American Standard Version Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Contemporary English Version Israel, you have no right to argue with your Creator. You are merely a clay pot shaped by a potter. The clay doesn't ask, "Why did you make me this way? Where are the handles?" English Revised Version Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? GOD'S WORD® Translation How horrible it will be for the one who quarrels with his maker. He is pottery among other earthenware pots. Does the clay ask the one who shapes it, "What are you making?" Does your work say to you, "There are no handles"? Good News Translation Does a clay pot dare argue with its maker, a pot that is like all the others? Does the clay ask the potter what he is doing? Does the pot complain that its maker has no skill? International Standard Version "Woe to the one who quarrels with his makers, a mere potsherd with the potsherds of the earth! Woe to the one who says to the one forming him, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no human hands?'! Majority Standard Bible Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? NET Bible One who argues with his creator is in grave danger, one who is like a mere shard among the other shards on the ground! The clay should not say to the potter, "What in the world are you doing? Your work lacks skill!" New Heart English Bible Woe to him who strives with his Maker, a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth. Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, 'What are you making?' or your work, 'He has no hands?' Webster's Bible Translation Woe to him that contendeth with his Maker! Let the potsherd contend with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? World English Bible Woe to him who strives with his Maker— a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or your work, ‘He has no hands?’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWoe [to] him who is striving with his Former "" (A potsherd with potsherds of the ground!) Does clay say to its Framer, What [are] you doing? And your work, He has no hands? Young's Literal Translation Woe to him who is striving with his Former, (A potsherd with potsherds of the ground!) Doth clay say to its Framer, 'What dost thou?' And thy work, 'He hath no hands?' Smith's Literal Translation Wo to him striving with him forming him! the potsherd with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him forming it, What wilt thou make? and thy work, No hands to it? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWoe to him that gainsayeth his maker, a sherd of the earthen pots: shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it: What art thou making, and thy work is without hands? Catholic Public Domain Version Woe to him who contradicts his Maker, a mere shard from an earthen vessel! Should the clay say to the potter, “What are you making?” or, “Your work is not made by your hands?” New American Bible Woe to anyone who contends with their Maker; a potsherd among potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to the potter, “What are you doing?” or, “What you are making has no handles”? New Revised Standard Version Woe to you who strive with your Maker, earthen vessels with the potter! Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, “What are you making”? or “Your work has no handles”? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWoe to him who strives with his Maker! An earthen vessel that strives with him who made it from the earth! Does the clay say to the potter, What are you making? Or am I not the work of your hands? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Woe to the one who sues with his Maker, a clay vessel of a potter of the Earth! Does the clay say to the potter: “What are you doing?”, and “I am not the work of your hands!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker, As a potsherd with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it: 'What makest thou?' Or: 'Thy work, it hath no hands'? Brenton Septuagint Translation What excellent thing have I prepared as clay of the potter? Will the ploughman plough the earth all say? shall the clay say to the potter, What art thou doing that thou dost not work, nor hast hands? shall the thing formed answer him that formed it? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God Calls Cyrus…8Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it. 9Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? 10Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’ ”… Cross References Romans 9:20-21 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use? Jeremiah 18:6 “O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. Job 9:12 If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’ Job 40:2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.” Job 33:13 Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks? Isaiah 29:16 You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”? Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand. 1 Corinthians 10:22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? Daniel 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” Lamentations 3:37-38 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it? / Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High? Ecclesiastes 6:10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he. Job 15:25-26 For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty, / rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield. Job 40:8 Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself? Matthew 20:15 Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ Romans 11:34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” Treasury of Scripture Woe to him that strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What make you? or your work, He has no hands? unto him Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Exodus 9:16,17 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth… Job 15:24-26 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle… shall the clay Isaiah 10:15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Isaiah 29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Jeremiah 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Jump to Previous Argument Clay Contend Contendeth Cursed Earth Earthen Earthenware Fashioned Fashioneth Fashions Former Formeth Gripped Hands Maker Makest Making Pot Pots Potsherd Potsherds Potter Quarrels Strive Strives Striveth Striving Vessels Wet What Wo Woe WorkJump to Next Argument Clay Contend Contendeth Cursed Earth Earthen Earthenware Fashioned Fashioneth Fashions Former Formeth Gripped Hands Maker Makest Making Pot Pots Potsherd Potsherds Potter Quarrels Strive Strives Striveth Striving Vessels Wet What Wo Woe WorkIsaiah 45 1. God calls Cyrus for his church's sake5. By his omnipotence he challenges obedience 20. He convinces the idols of vanity by his saving power Woe to him The word "woe" in Hebrew is "הוֹי" (hoy), often used as an expression of lament or impending judgment. It serves as a warning, indicating the seriousness of the situation. In the biblical context, "woe" is a divine pronouncement of distress upon those who oppose God's will. This sets the tone for the verse, emphasizing the gravity of contending with the Creator. who quarrels with his Maker one clay pot among many Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? Let the potsherd strive . . .--The sentence, as the italics show, is abrupt, but is better taken without inserting the verbs, and in apposition with the pronoun--Woe unto him . . . a potsherd among the potsherds; a frail mortal like all his fellows. Shall the clay say . . .--The potsherd suggests the potter, not without an allusive reference to the history of man's creation in Genesis 2:7. As in Jeremiah 18:1-10; Romans 9:20-21, the thought pressed is that of absolute sovereignty, the belief in the wisdom and equity of that sovereignty being kept in the background, as a reserve force. The two clauses represent different aspects of presumption--the first questions, the other arrogantly condemns. The potter's vessel says that the potter "has no hands," is without creative power or skill. Verses 9-13. - ISRAEL WARNED NOT TO CALL IN QUESTION GOD'S MODES OF ACTION. Apparently, Isaiah anticipates that the Israelites will be discontented and murmur at their deliverer being a heathen king, and not one of their own body. He therefore warns them against presuming to criticize the arrangements of the All-Wise, reminding them of his unapproachable greatness (ver. 12), and once more assuring them that the appointment of Cyrus is from him (ver. 13). Verse 9. - Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive, etc.; rather, woe unto him that striveth with his Maker, a potsherd among potsherds of the ground: All men are equally made of "the dust of the ground" (Genesis 2:7). Israel has no prerogative in this respect. He, too, is "a potsherd among potsherds" - day moulded by the potter; no more entitled to lift up his voice against his Maker than the vessel to rebel against the man who shapes it (comp. Isaiah 29:16; and see the comment furnished by St. Paul in the Epistle to the Romans 9:20-24). What would a man think if the clay that he was fashioning objected to being moulded in a particular form, or if a work that he had made exclaimed, "He is a poor bungler - he hath no hands"? Yet this is what a man does who finds fault with the arrangements of the Almighty.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Woeה֗וֹי (hō·w) Interjection Strong's 1945: Ah! alas! ha! to him who quarrels רָ֚ב (rāḇ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend with his Maker— יֹ֣צְר֔וֹ (yō·ṣə·rōw) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine one clay pot חֶ֖רֶשׂ (ḥe·reś) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2789: Earthenware, earthen vessel, sherd, potsherd among many. חַרְשֵׂ֣י (ḥar·śê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 2789: Earthenware, earthen vessel, sherd, potsherd Does the clay חֹ֤מֶר (ḥō·mer) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2563: A bubbling up, of water, a wave, of earth, mire, clay, a heap, a chomer, dry measure ask הֲיֹאמַ֨ר (hă·yō·mar) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say the potter, לְיֹֽצְרוֹ֙ (lə·yō·ṣə·rōw) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine ‘What מַֽה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what are you making?’ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה (ta·‘ă·śeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make Does your work say, וּפָעָלְךָ֖ (ū·p̄ā·‘ā·lə·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6467: Doing, deed, work ‘He has no אֵין־ (’ên-) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle hands’? יָדַ֥יִם (yā·ḏa·yim) Noun - fd Strong's 3027: A hand Links Isaiah 45:9 NIVIsaiah 45:9 NLT Isaiah 45:9 ESV Isaiah 45:9 NASB Isaiah 45:9 KJV Isaiah 45:9 BibleApps.com Isaiah 45:9 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 45:9 Chinese Bible Isaiah 45:9 French Bible Isaiah 45:9 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 45:9 Woe to him who strives with his (Isa Isi Is) |
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