Isaiah 30:14 kjv
And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
Isaiah 30:14 nkjv
And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter's vessel, Which is broken in pieces; He shall not spare. So there shall not be found among its fragments A shard to take fire from the hearth, Or to take water from the cistern."
Isaiah 30:14 niv
It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern."
Isaiah 30:14 esv
and its breaking is like that of a potter's vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern."
Isaiah 30:14 nlt
You will be smashed like a piece of pottery ?
shattered so completely that
there won't be a piece big enough
to carry coals from a fireplace
or a little water from the well."
Isaiah 30 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 30:14 | "shattering it like pottery thrown by a potter; he will not spare." | Direct Statement |
| Jer 19:11 | "break it like a potter’s vessel, broken beyond repair," | Parallel Judgment Language |
| Jer 48:38 | "his place broken and shattered like a potter’s vessel." | Pottery imagery for judgment |
| Isa 1:25 | "and I will purge your dross with a refiner's fire. [...]" | Refining/Purging aspect |
| Isa 29:16 | "Shall the potter be regarded as the same as the clay?" | Potter/Clay imagery |
| Rom 9:20-21 | "Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has not the potter a right over the clay..." | Potter/Clay analogy |
| Psa 2:9 | "You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel." | Divine destruction |
| Hos 10:2 | "Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. [...]" | Judgment for iniquity |
| Eze 11:12 | "And you shall know that I am the Lord. For they have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the customs of the nations that are around you." | Judgment for disobedience |
| Isa 7:7 | "Thus says the Lord God: 'It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.'" | God's definitive word |
| Isa 14:27 | "For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who can frustrate it?" | God's sovereign plan |
| Isa 22:12-13 | "Moreover, the Lord God of hosts called on that day to weeping and to mourning, to balding and to wearing sackcloth; and behold, instead, there was gladness and joy, slaughter of oxen and killing of sheep..." | Judgment and grief |
| Jer 18:1-6 | God directs Jeremiah to watch the potter, illustrating His power to form and reform nations. | Potter's power |
| Nah 1:9 | "Whatever you scheme against the Lord, he will make a complete end of the affliction; trouble shall not rise again a second time." | Complete destruction |
| Isa 31:3 | "The Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, both the helper will fall, and the one who is helped will fall..." | Warning against Egypt |
| Isa 20:5-6 | Describes the shame of reliance on Egypt. | Shame of trusting Egypt |
| Luke 12:48 | "...And from everyone to whom much is given, from him will much be required..." | Accountability |
| Rev 18:6 | "Pay her back as she also has paid, and for her deeds return to her double..." | Retribution |
| Lam 4:2 | "How the gold has grown dim, how the most pure gold has changed! The holy stones are scattered at the head of every street." | Fallen glory |
| Prov 3:7 | "Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil." | True wisdom |
Isaiah 30 verses
Isaiah 30 14 Meaning
The verse declares that God's judgment has fallen and is like shattered pottery that cannot be repaired. There will be no remnant or escape for those who trusted in Egypt.
Isaiah 30 14 Context
Isaiah 30 describes God's judgment upon Judah for their rebellion and their foolish reliance on Egypt for military aid instead of trusting in the Lord. The chapter warns against alliances with foreign powers, emphasizing that such actions are futile and will lead to disaster. This verse, 30:14, serves as the climax of the judgment announced in the preceding verses, highlighting the finality and completeness of the impending destruction due to their misplaced trust. Historically, this refers to Judah's flirtation with Egypt for protection against Assyria or Babylon.
Isaiah 30 14 Word Analysis
- wə·hi·ḵâ (וְהָיָ֔תָה) - "and it shall be" or "and it became." This past tense/perfect aspect in Hebrew often signifies a completed action or a declaration of what will come to pass as if it already has.
- šə·ḇî·rîm (שְׁבָרִ֥ים) - "shatterings," "fragments," "pieces." It implies a thorough breaking apart.
- kə·lî·ḵə (כְּלִי־) - "vessel," "jar," "pot." A common object, emphasizing its fragility when handled roughly.
- ḇêr-yə·ṣî (בְּעֹ֥קֶר) - "in the morning." The destruction is swift and decisive.
- ’êṉ (אֵֽין) - "there is not," "none." Absolute negation.
- lō·’ (לֹֽא) - "not." Reinforces the absence.
- yiš·šê·r (יִשָּׁאֵר) - "will remain," "will be left." No survivor, no remnant.
- la·mə·ḵā (לָמְךָ) - "for you," "to you." Direct address to Judah.
- ‘al (עַל) - "upon." Indicating the consequence.
- rô·ḇə·ṣêṯ (רֹבֶ֥צֶת) - "couched," "lying down," "hiding." Implies a state of ease or perhaps secretive maneuvering, specifically referring to their trust in Egypt.
- ba·mîṯ (בַּמִּ֔יט) - "in it," "with it," "in them." Refers to Egypt.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "and it shall be shatterings like a potter's vessel" (wə·hi·ḵâ šə·ḇî·rîm kə·lî·ḵə) - This potent metaphor vividly portrays the complete annihilation. Unlike a crack that can be mended, shattering implies disintegration beyond repair. The potter's vessel, specifically made for use, is easily broken if mishandled. This imagery underscores God’s power to break what He forms and the utter helplessness of Judah against His judgment.
- "there will not spare" (’êṉ lō·’ yiš·šê·r) - This emphatic denial signifies absolute finality. No fragment will be held back, no piece salvaged. The judgment is comprehensive.
- "for you to crush" (la·mə·ḵā la·mêḵ) - The action of crushing is directed at "you," specifically Judah.
- "upon it lying down with it" (‘al-rô·ḇə·ṣêṯ ba·mî·ṯ) - This phrase captures Judah’s dependence and seeking of refuge in Egypt ("it"). They were 'lying down' their security, their hopes, within the embrace of Egypt.
Isaiah 30 14 Bonus Section
The imagery of God as a potter is rich throughout Scripture. Jeremiah 18 details God instructing Jeremiah to go to the potter's house to witness God's sovereign power to form, reshape, and break nations. Isaiah himself uses the potter/clay analogy to highlight human insignificance before the Creator's absolute authority. This verse underscores that the same divine authority that formed them can also break them when they rebel. The completeness of the shattering emphasizes the divine displeasure with Judah’s sin of apostasy and reliance on the "broken reed" of Egypt, as described in chapter 36. The "morning" reference suggests that the judgment will be sudden and overwhelming, catching them unaware of its destructive power.
Isaiah 30 14 Commentary
Isaiah 30:14 pronounces a devastating judgment upon Judah for their misplaced trust in Egypt. The imagery of a potter's vessel being shattered signifies the absolute and irreversible nature of God's coming punishment. There will be no saving remnant, no escape from the destruction that will fall upon them like a fragile pot carelessly dropped. This verse stands as a stark warning against seeking security in human alliances or worldly power rather than in the Lord alone. The act of "shattering" is total demolition, implying that everything Judah valued and relied upon in Egypt will be annihilated, leaving nothing to be recovered. Their "lying down" in Egypt is not just an alliance, but a misplaced reliance that has sealed their doom.