Isaiah 10:15
Does the axe exalt itself above the one who wields it? Or does the saw boast against the one who moves it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff acting as though it were not made of wood.
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
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.
KJV1611 – Modern English
Shall the ax boast against him who cuts with it? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him who shakes it? As if the rod should shake itself against those who lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were not wood.
King James Version 1611 (Original)
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.
Coverdale Bible (1535)
But doth the axe boost itself, agaynst him yt heweth therwith, or doth the sawe make eny krakinge, agaynst him that ruleth it? That were euen like, as yf the rod dyd exalte it self agaynst him, that beareth it: or as though ye staff shulde magnifie it self, as who saye: it were no wodd.
Geneva Bible (1560)
Shall the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therewith? or shall the sawe exalt it selfe against him that moueth it? as if the rod shoulde lift vp it selfe against him that taketh it vp, or the staffe should exalt it selfe, as it were no wood.
Bishops' Bible (1568)
Shall the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therwith? or shal the sawe make any bragging against hym that ruleth it? That were euen lyke as if the rod did exalt it selfe against him that beareth it, or as though the staffe should magnifie it selfe as who say it were no wood.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
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.
Webster's Bible (1833)
Shall the axe boast itself against him who hews therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? as if a rod should wield those who lift it up, [or] as if a staff should lift up [him who is] not wood.
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
-- Doth the axe glorify itself Against him who is hewing with it? Doth the saw magnify itself Against him who is shaking it? As a rod waving those lifting it up! As a staff lifting up that which is not wood!
American Standard Version (1901)
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? shall the saw magnify itself against him that wieldeth it? as if a rod should wield them that lift it up, `or' as if a staff should lift up `him that is' not wood.
American Standard Version (1901)
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? shall the saw magnify itself against him that wieldeth it? as if a rod should wield them that lift it up, [or] as if a staff should lift up [him that is] not wood.
Bible in Basic English (1941)
Will the axe say high-sounding words against him who is using it, or the blade be full of pride against him who is cutting with it? As if a rod had the power of shaking him who is using it, or as if a stick might take up him who is not wood.
World English Bible (2000)
Should an axe brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
Does an ax exalt itself over the one who wields it, or a saw magnify itself over the one who cuts with it? As if a scepter should brandish the one who raises it, or a staff should lift up what is not made of wood!
Referenced Verses
- Isa 10:5 : 5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger, in whose hands is the staff of My indignation!
- Rom 9:20-21 : 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its maker, 'Why have you made me like this?' 21 Does not the potter have the right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
- Isa 45:9 : 9 Woe to those who strive with their Maker, like a piece of pottery among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?
- Jer 51:20-23 : 20 You are My war club, My weapon of battle: with you, I shatter nations, and with you, I destroy kingdoms. 21 With you, I shatter horse and rider; with you, I shatter chariot and driver. 22 With you, I shatter man and woman; with you, I shatter the old and the young; with you, I shatter the young man and the maiden. 23 With you, I shatter shepherd and flock; with you, I shatter farmer and oxen; with you, I shatter governors and officials.
- Isa 29:16 : 16 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, 'You did not make me'? Can the pot say to the potter, 'You know nothing'?
- Ezek 28:9 : 9 Will you still say, “I am a god,” in the presence of those who kill you? Yet you are a man and not a god in the hands of those who wound you.
- Ps 17:13-14 : 13 Arise, Lord! Confront them, bring them down. With your sword, rescue me from the wicked. 14 By your hand, Lord, save me from people of this world whose reward is in this life. Fill their bellies with what you have stored up; let their children be satisfied, and let them leave their wealth to their little ones.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Ezek 15:2-54 verses76%
2Son of man, what is the wood of a vine compared to any other tree or the branch that is among the trees of the forest?
3Is wood taken from it to make anything useful? Can one make a peg from it to hang any utensil on?
4Look, it is put into the fire for fuel. The fire consumes both ends of it, and its middle is charred. Is it useful for anything?
5Even when it was whole, it could not be made into anything useful. How much less can it be used after the fire has consumed it and it is charred!
- 76%
10All humanity will know that I, the LORD, have drawn My sword from its sheath, and it will not return again.
- Ps 74:5-62 verses75%
5It appeared like one lifting up axes against a thick forest.
6Now they smash all its carved work together with hatchets and hammers.
- 74%
14He cuts down cedars or chooses a cypress or an oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain makes it grow.
- Isa 30:31-322 verses74%
31At the voice of the LORD, Assyria will be shattered; he will strike them down with his rod.
32Every stroke the LORD lays on them with his punishing rod will be to the sound of tambourines and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm.
- Jer 10:3-53 verses74%
3For the customs of the nations are worthless. They cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped by the hands of a craftsman with a chisel.
4They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so it will not totter.
5They are like scarecrows in a cucumber field; they cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm—nor can they do any good.
- 74%
9One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits wood may be endangered by it.
- 73%
16Therefore, the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, will send leanness among his robust ones, and under his glory, a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire.
- Isa 10:33-342 verses73%
33Behold, the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, and the lofty ones will be humbled.
34He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.
- 73%
26The LORD of Hosts will stir up a scourge against them as He did at the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and He will raise His staff over the sea as He did in Egypt.
- 72%
12Can iron break iron from the north, or bronze?
- 72%
9Woe to those who strive with their Maker, like a piece of pottery among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?
- Isa 10:4-52 verses72%
4There will be nothing left but to bow down among prisoners or fall among the slain. Yet for all this, His anger has not turned away, and His hand is still stretched out.
5Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger, in whose hands is the staff of My indignation!
- 72%
14This happened so that no trees beside the abundant waters may grow tall enough to reach the clouds, nor lift their tops among the thick branches, and no trees that drink water will stand before them in their height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the lower earth, among the sons of men, with those who go down to the pit.
- 72%
10They will not gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons as fuel. They will plunder those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Lord GOD.
- 72%
5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers,
- 72%
7with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his arms.
- 72%
8Even the cypresses rejoice over you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, 'Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes against us.'
- 72%
10Hammer your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’
- 72%
22Her voice will hiss like a serpent as they advance in force; with axes they come against her, like those who cut down trees.
- 71%
15See, I will make you into a sharp threshing sledge, new and covered with many blades. You will thresh the mountains and crush them and reduce the hills to chaff.
- 71%
20You are My war club, My weapon of battle: with you, I shatter nations, and with you, I destroy kingdoms.
- Isa 44:11-122 verses71%
11Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, and the craftsmen are mere men. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will be terrified and put to shame together.
12The blacksmith works with iron, shaping it in the coals. He hammers it with his tools and works it with the strength of his arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and becomes faint.
- Isa 10:13-142 verses71%
13For he says, 'By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, plundered their treasures, and brought down their mighty ones like a bull.'
14My hand seized the wealth of nations like one finds a nest. As one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth; no wing fluttered, no beak opened to chirp.
- 71%
10Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: Because it grew tall, lifting its top among the clouds, and its heart became arrogant because of its height,
- 71%
13You who rejoice in nothingness and say, 'By our own strength we have taken horns for ourselves!'
- 71%
24Then all the trees of the field will know that I, the LORD, bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.’
- 71%
13Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
- 71%
11When its boughs are dry, they are broken; women come and light them on fire. For this is a people without understanding; therefore, their Maker will not have compassion on them, and their Creator will not show them favor.
- Judg 9:9-102 verses71%
9But the olive tree replied, 'Should I stop producing my rich oil, by which gods and humans are honored, to go sway over the trees?'
10Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.'
- 70%
31The strong one will become tinder, and his work a spark; both will burn together, and no one will extinguish them.
- 70%
19Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' or to silent stone, 'Arise!' Can it teach? Look, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath at all within it.
- 70%
24Therefore, this is what the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, says: 'My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear Assyria, though they strike you with a rod and lift up their staff against you as Egypt did.'
- 70%
3Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, dense shade, and towering height, its top reaching among the thick clouds.
- 70%
11Its branches were strong, fit for rulers' scepters. It towered high; its height was noticeable among the branches, in the lushness of its abundance.
- 70%
5But as one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. He cried out, "Oh no, my master! It was borrowed!"
- 70%
2Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty, like a hailstorm, a destructive tempest, like a driving flood of mighty waters overflowing, He will cast it down to the ground by His hand.
- 70%
14This decision is by the decree of the watchers and the sentence by the command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men, and He gives them to whomever He will and sets the lowliest of men over them.