Isaiah 45:10 kjv
Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
Isaiah 45:10 nkjv
Woe to him who says to his father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to the woman, 'What have you brought forth?' "
Isaiah 45:10 niv
Woe to the one who says to a father, 'What have you begotten?' or to a mother, 'What have you brought to birth?'
Isaiah 45:10 esv
Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' or to a woman, 'With what are you in labor?'"
Isaiah 45:10 nlt
How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
'Why was I born?'
or if it said to its mother,
'Why did you make me this way?'"
Isaiah 45 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 40:28 | The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. | God's infinite power and eternity |
| Isaiah 41:4 | "I the LORD—I am the first and with the last; I am he." | God's unique eternality |
| Isaiah 43:1 | "I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." | God's sovereign choice and redemption |
| Isaiah 44:24 | "I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens..." | God's solitary creation of heavens |
| Isaiah 44:28 | "who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall accomplish all that I please.'" | God's appointing Cyrus as shepherd |
| Isaiah 46:9-10 | "...I am God, and there is no other God and nothing like me, declaring the end..." | God's preordained plan and knowledge |
| Jeremiah 10:11-12 | "...who made the earth by his power, who spread out the heavens by his intelligence." | God's wisdom in creation |
| Jeremiah 32:17 | "'Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power..." | God's omnipotence demonstrated |
| Romans 9:20 | "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder..." | Divine sovereignty vs. human will |
| Romans 11:36 | "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever!" | All things originate from God |
| Revelation 4:11 | "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things..." | God as the creator deserving glory |
| John 1:3 | "All things were made through him, and without him was not made anything that was made." | Jesus as the agent of creation |
| Colossians 1:16 | "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible..." | Christ's role in universal creation |
| 1 Corinthians 8:6 | "...yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist..." | God the Father as the source |
| Job 12:7 | "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you, or the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;" | Creation testifies to God's power |
| Psalm 19:1 | "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." | Heavens proclaim God's glory |
| Psalm 100:3 | "Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his..." | God as maker and owner |
| Psalm 119:75 | "I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me." | God's righteous and faithful governance |
| Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | The foundational act of creation |
| Ecclesiastes 3:14 | "I have found that whatever God does endures forever; you cannot add to it or take from it." | Permanence of God's works |
Isaiah 45 verses
Isaiah 45 10 Meaning
This verse strongly rebukes anyone who would question God's sovereign creative power, specifically regarding the re-establishment of His people. It asserts that God, as the sole Creator, has the absolute right to form and decree things, including the purpose and restoration of His chosen instruments, such as Cyrus, whom He called and empowered.
Isaiah 45 10 Context
This verse appears within Isaiah chapter 45, a section known for its powerful prophecies concerning God's dealings with Israel, particularly through the Persian king Cyrus. God declares His intention to use Cyrus to bring about the restoration of His people, allowing them to return from Babylonian exile and rebuild Jerusalem. The prophet is presenting God as the ultimate sovereign, one who predestines events and orchestrates human history for His own purposes, even using foreign kings as His instruments. The immediate context is a declaration of God's unique divine authority, directly contrasting His creative power with the impotence of idols and those who would challenge His will. The historical backdrop is the exilic period of Judah, where they were subjected to Babylonian rule, and the prophecy points forward to a future liberation orchestrated by God through Cyrus.
Isaiah 45 10 Word analysis
Woe: A strong expression of condemnation or sorrow, indicating divine displeasure and judgment.
to him that striveth: Refers to anyone who contends with God, a defiant challenger to His authority or plans. This could be internal doubts, pagan gods, or human rulers who oppose God's will.
with him that: A conjunction connecting the first phrase to the following clause.
formeth him: God is the shaper and maker. This emphasizes God's creative power, molding humanity and events according to His divine will. It suggests divine intention in creation.
a potsherd: A fragment of broken pottery. This is used as a metaphor for insignificance and fragility, comparing man to something easily discarded and shattered, highlighting human weakness in contrast to God's strength.
among the potsherds of the earth! Further emphasizes the commonality and lowliness of such beings on the earth, subject to decay and destruction.
Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, The analogy shifts to the act of pottery making, where the inanimate clay has no right or ability to question the potter who shapes it.
What makest thou? This is the core of the rebellious question, challenging the creator's action and purpose. It represents presumption and arrogance.
or thy work, Hast it understanding? The second part of the question, attributing a lack of intelligence or understanding to the creator. This is a profound insult to God's wisdom and plan.
The comparison of man to clay and God to the potter: This illustrates divine sovereignty, purpose, and the right to fashion His creation according to His will.
The rhetorical questions: Highlight the absurdity of a created being questioning its Creator, underscoring human limitations and God's absolute authority.
The repetition of "him that": Links the concepts of divine shaping and human challenging in a direct confrontational manner.
Isaiah 45 10 Bonus section
The imagery of the potter and clay is a recurring theme in the Bible, reinforcing the concept of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. It speaks to the idea that God has a plan and a purpose for everything He creates, and that His wisdom is far beyond human comprehension. The contrast between the insignificant "potsherd" and the all-powerful Creator underscores the immense gap between humanity and God. This verse serves as a foundational declaration of God's absolute authority in a world often filled with questions and doubts about His actions. It highlights the unreasonableness of human arrogance when confronted with divine power and wisdom.
Isaiah 45 10 Commentary
The prophet pronounces woe upon those who dare to question God's actions in shaping the world and His people. Just as a potter has absolute authority over the clay to make whatever vessels he desires, so too does God have the supreme right to mold nations and individuals according to His sovereign will. No created thing, especially a humble and fragile being like humanity (likened to a broken piece of pottery), has the right to question its Creator, asking "What are you making?" or to challenge God's wisdom and purpose in His work. This rebukes pride and rebellion, asserting God's ultimate control over all of creation and history, including His chosen instruments like Cyrus, who is being presented as a divinely appointed agent for Israel's deliverance.