Keraia
Isaiah 45

Isaiah 45:9

God Calls Cyrus · Isaiah 45:1–25
Read Isaiah 45

Translations

Modern
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’?
Traditional
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?
Literal
Woe to the one striving with the One having formed him—a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to the one fashioning it, ‘What are you doing? Or ‘Your work has no hands unto it!’?
Latin
Væ qui contradicit fictori suo, testa de samiis terræ! Numquid dicet lutum figulo suo: Quid facis, et opus tuum absque manibus est?

Original

Hebrew
English
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’?

Notes

Isaiah 45:9–11

pot … the potter … him … his father: It is foolish for a creature to question the wisdom of its creator.

Isaiah 45:9–13

The Lord addresses those who doubt his decision to use a non-believing king for his plans. As the Creator, he is free and has complete authority. He promised to return his people to their land and would use anyone he chooses to fulfill that promise.

Events

Parallels

2 Chronicles 36:22–23 Ezra 1:1–4

Glossary

Book of Baruch Church Isaiah, Book of New Creation, New Creature Potsherd Pottery Ransom Righteousness Work

Topics

Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Clay used by Potter Clay: Figurative Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Man: Called: The Potsherd of the Earth Potsherd: Fragment of Earthenware Presumption: General Scriptures Concerning Reverence for God