Parallel Verses
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Woe be unto him that chideth with his maker, the potsherd with the potter. Sayeth the clay to the potter, "What makest thou?" or "Thy work serveth for nothing?"
New American Standard Bible
An earthenware vessel
Will the
Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?
King James Version
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?
Holman Bible
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’?
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?'!
A Conservative Version
Woe to him who strives with his maker, a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What are thou making? or thy work, 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?
Amplified
“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’?
Bible in Basic English
Cursed is he who has an argument with his Maker, the pot which has an argument with the Potter! Will the wet earth say to him who is working with it, What are you doing, that your work has nothing by which it may be gripped?
Darby Translation
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let a potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that formeth it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands?
Julia Smith 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?
King James 2000
Woe unto 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 do you make? or of your work, He has no hands?
Lexham Expanded Bible
Woe [to the] one who strives with his {maker}, a potsherd among potsherds of earth! Does [the] clay say to the one who fashions it, 'What are you making?' and 'Your work has no hands'?
Modern King James verseion
Woe to him who fights with the One who formed him, a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to its former, What are you making? Or your work, 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?'
The Emphasized Bible
Alas for him who contendeth with his Fashioner, - A potsherd, should contend with the potsherds of the ground! Shall it be said by the clay, unto him that is fashioning it, What wouldst thou make? Or, thy work say, of thee, He hath no hands?
Webster
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?'
Youngs 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?'
Themes
Contention » Those that strive with their maker
Man » A social being » As clay
Man » Called » The potsherd of the earth
Potsherd » Fragment of earthenware
Topics
Interlinear
Yatsar
Yatsar
References
Word Count of 20 Translations in Isaiah 45:9
Prayers for Isaiah 45:9
Verse Info
Context Readings
Cyrus, God's Instrument
8 The heavens above shall drop down, and the clouds shall rain righteousness. The earth shall open itself, and bring forth health, and thereby shall righteousness flourish. Even I the LORD shall bring it to pass. 9 Woe be unto him that chideth with his maker, the potsherd with the potter. Sayeth the clay to the potter, "What makest thou?" or "Thy work serveth for nothing?" 10 Woe be unto him that sayeth to his father, "Why begettest thou?" And to his mother, "Why bearest thou?"
Names
Cross References
Isaiah 29:16
Doubtless, your destruction is, in reputation, as the potter's clay. And doth the work say of him that made it, "He made me not?" And doth an earthen vessel say of the potter, "He understandeth not?"
Isaiah 64:8
But now O LORD, thou father of ours: we are the clay, and thou art our potter, and we all are the work of thy hands.
Romans 9:20-21
But O man what art thou, which disputest with God? Shall the work say to the workman, "Why hast thou made me on this fashion?"
Job 40:8-9
Wilt thou disannul my judgment? Or wilt thou condemn me, that thou thyself mayest be made righteous?
Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, there is no counsel against the LORD.
Isaiah 10:15
But doth the axe boost itself, against him that heweth therewith? Or doth the saw make any bragging, against him that ruleth it? That were even like as if the rod did exalt itself against him that beareth it: or as though the staff should magnify itself, as who say it were not wood.
Jeremiah 18:6
"May not I do with you, as this Potter doth, O ye house of Israel, sayeth the LORD? Behold, ye house of Israel: ye are in my hand, even as the clay in the Potter's hand.
Jeremiah 50:24
I myself have laid wait for thee, and thou art taken. Unawares art thou trapped and snared. For why, thou hast provoked the LORD unto anger:
Exodus 9:16-17
Yet in very deed for this cause have I stirred thee up, for to show my power in thee, and to declare my name throughout all the world.
Job 15:24-26
Sorrow and carefulness make him afraid, and compass him round about, like as it where a king with his host ready to the battle.
Psalm 2:2-9
The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers came together against the LORD, and against his Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:22
Either, shall we provoke the Lord? Or are we stronger than he?