Isaiah 45:9

KJV1611 – Modern English

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 work say, He has no hands?

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    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’?

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard 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?

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    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?

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    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?

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Wo be vnto him that chydeth wt his maker, the potsherde with the potter. Saieth ye claye to the potter: What makest thou? or, yi worke serueth for nothige?

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    Woe be vnto him that striueth with his maker, the potsherd with the potsherds of the earth: shall the clay say to him that facioneth it, What makest thou? or thy worke, It hath none hands?

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Wo be vnto hym that striueth with his maker, let the potsherde striue with the potsherdes of the earth: Saieth the clay to the potter, What makest thou? or, thy worke is not perfectly done.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    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?

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    Woe to him who strives with his Maker--a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, "What are you making?" or your work, "He has no hands?"

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    Wo `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?'

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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?

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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?

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    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?

  • World English Bible (2000)

    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?'

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    The Lord Gives a Warning 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!”

Referenced Verses

  • Rom 9:20-21 : 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him who formed it, Why have you made me like this? 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
  • Isa 29:16 : 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?
  • Isa 64:8 : 8 But now, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand.
  • Jer 18:6 : 6 O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
  • Jer 50:24 : 24 I have set a trap for you, and you are also caught, O Babylon, and you were not aware: you are found, and also caught, because you have fought against the LORD.
  • Prov 21:30 : 30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the LORD.
  • Isa 10:15 : 15 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.
  • Exod 9:16-17 : 16 And indeed, for this purpose, I have raised you up, to show in you my power; that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. 17 As yet you exalt yourself against my people, that you will not let them go?
  • Job 15:24-26 : 24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid; they prevail against him, as a king ready for battle. 25 For he stretches out his hand against God, and strengthens himself against the Almighty. 26 He runs upon Him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his shields.
  • Job 40:8-9 : 8 Will you also annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified? 9 Do you have an arm like God, or can you thunder with a voice like him?
  • Ps 2:2-9 : 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bonds apart, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and distress them in his deep displeasure. 6 Yet I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, 'You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.' 8 Ask of me, and I shall give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Isa 45:10-12
    3 verses
    82%

    10Woe to him who says to his father, What are you begetting? or to the woman, What have you brought forth?

    11Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons, and concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.

    12I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded.

  • Isa 29:15-16
    2 verses
    81%

    15Woe to them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? and who knows us?

    16Surely 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?

  • Rom 9:19-21
    3 verses
    79%

    19You will say then to me, Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?

    20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him who formed it, Why have you made me like this?

    21Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

  • Jer 18:2-6
    5 verses
    77%

    2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.

    3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he was working on the wheels.

    4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

    5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

    6O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

  • Isa 64:8
    74%

    8But now, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand.

  • Isa 54:16
    74%

    16Behold, I have created the smith who blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

  • Acts 7:50
    73%

    50Has not my hand made all these things?

  • Isa 10:15
    72%

    15Shall 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.

  • Job 10:8-9
    2 verses
    72%

    8Your hands have made and fashioned me together all around; yet You destroy me.

    9Remember, I beseech You, that You have made me as the clay; and will You bring me into dust again?

  • Isa 30:14
    72%

    14And he shall break it as the breaking of the potter's vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found among its fragments a shard to take fire from the hearth, or to take water from the pit.

  • Isa 44:9-12
    4 verses
    72%

    9Those who make a carved image are all of them vanity; and their delightful things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

    10Who has formed a god, or cast a carved image that is profitable for nothing?

    11Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

    12The smith with the tongs both works in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, and works it with the strength of his arms: yes, he is hungry, and his strength fails: he drinks no water, and is faint.

  • Jer 33:2
    71%

    2Thus says the LORD, the Maker thereof, the LORD who formed it, to establish it; the LORD is His name:

  • Jer 16:20
    71%

    20Shall a man make gods for himself, which are not gods?

  • Isa 40:18
    71%

    18To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him?

  • Isa 46:5
    70%

    5To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?

  • Job 31:15
    70%

    15Did not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

  • Job 4:17
    70%

    17Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker?

  • Jer 25:7
    70%

    7Yet you have not listened to Me, says the LORD; that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own harm.

  • Isa 40:25
    70%

    25To whom then will you liken me, or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One.

  • Isa 51:13
    69%

    13And you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and you fear continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?

  • Isa 43:13
    69%

    13Yes, before the day was, I am He; and there is none who can deliver out of My hand: I will work, and who shall hinder it?

  • Isa 41:24
    69%

    24Behold, you are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooses you.

  • Hab 2:13
    69%

    13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for mere vanity?

  • Isa 45:18
    69%

    18For thus says the LORD who created the heavens; God Himself who formed the earth and made it; He has established it, He did not create it in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD, and there is no other.

  • Amos 4:13
    69%

    13For behold, he who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

  • 2 Kgs 19:25
    69%

    25Have you not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now I have brought it to pass, that you should be to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

  • Hos 4:4
    68%

    4Yet let no one strive, nor reprove another, for your people are like those who contend with the priest.

  • Isa 49:4
    68%

    4Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

  • Isa 44:24
    68%

    24Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb, I am the LORD who makes all things; who stretches forth the heavens alone; who spreads abroad the earth by myself;

  • Isa 45:8
    68%

    8Drop down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

  • Job 40:2
    68%

    2Shall he who contends with the Almighty instruct him? He who reproves God, let him answer it.

  • Job 33:6
    68%

    6Behold, I am in your place before God; I also am formed out of clay.

  • Job 36:23
    68%

    23Who has ordered him his way? or who can say, You have done wrong?