Isaiah 29:16 “You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as…”

Isaiah 29:16

You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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?

World English Bible

You turn things upside down! Should the potter be thought to be like clay, that the thing made should say about him who made it, “He didn’t make me;” or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

American Standard Version

Ye turn things upside down! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it, He made me not; or the thing formed say of him that formed it, He hath no understanding?

Geneva Bible 1599

Your turning of deuises shall it not be esteemed as the potters clay? for shall the worke say of him that made it, Hee made me not? or the thing formed, say of him that facioned it, He had none vnderstanding?

Darby Translation

[Oh] your perverseness! — Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay, so that the work should say of him that made it, He made me not; or the thing formed say of him that formed it, He hath no understanding?

Young's Literal Translation

Your perversion! as clay is the potter esteemed? That the work saith of its maker, 'He hath not made me?' And the framed thing said of its framer, 'He did not understand?'

Bible in Basic English

You are turning things upside down! Is the wet earth the same to you as the one who is forming it? will the thing made say of him who made it, He made me not: or the thing formed say of him who gave it form, He has no knowledge?

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Cross references

“your turning”

Isaiah 24:1 Acts 17:6

Isaiah 24:1 · BSB

Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants—

Acts 17:6 · BSB

But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,

“as the potter's”

Jeremiah 18:1–10 Isaiah 45:9 Isaiah 45:10 Romans 9:19 Romans 9:21

Jeremiah 18:1–10 · BSB

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

Isaiah 45:9 · BSB

Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?

Isaiah 45:10 · BSB

Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’”

Romans 9:19 · BSB

One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”

Romans 9:21 · BSB

Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

“or shall”

Isaiah 45:11 Psalm 94:8 Psalm 94:9

Isaiah 45:11 · BSB

Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?

Psalm 94:8 · BSB

Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?

Psalm 94:9 · BSB

He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

Also

Isaiah 64:8

Isaiah 64:8 · BSB

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

15Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?”

17In a very short time, will not Lebanon become an orchard, and the orchard seem like a forest?

Read Isaiah 29