Isaiah 29:16
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?
Original Language Analysis
הַ֨פְכְּכֶ֔ם
Surely your turning of things upside down
H2017
הַ֨פְכְּכֶ֔ם
Surely your turning of things upside down
Strong's:
H2017
Word #:
1 of 16
an upset, i.e., (abstract) perversity
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
2 of 16
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
כְּחֹ֥מֶר
clay
H2563
כְּחֹ֥מֶר
clay
Strong's:
H2563
Word #:
3 of 16
properly, a bubbling up, i.e., of water, a wave; hence, a chomer or dry measure
לְיֹצְר֖וֹ
as the potter's
H3335
לְיֹצְר֖וֹ
as the potter's
Strong's:
H3335
Word #:
4 of 16
to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e., form a resolution)
יֵֽחָשֵׁ֑ב
shall be esteemed
H2803
יֵֽחָשֵׁ֑ב
shall be esteemed
Strong's:
H2803
Word #:
5 of 16
properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
6 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה
for shall the work
H4639
מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה
for shall the work
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
8 of 16
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
עָשָׂ֔נִי
it He made
H6213
עָשָׂ֔נִי
it He made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
9 of 16
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
10 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עָשָׂ֔נִי
it He made
H6213
עָשָׂ֔נִי
it He made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
11 of 16
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וְיֵ֛צֶר
me not or shall the thing framed
H3336
וְיֵ֛צֶר
me not or shall the thing framed
Strong's:
H3336
Word #:
12 of 16
a form; figuratively, conception (i.e., purpose)
לְיֹצְר֖וֹ
as the potter's
H3335
לְיֹצְר֖וֹ
as the potter's
Strong's:
H3335
Word #:
14 of 16
to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e., form a resolution)
Historical Context
The pottery metaphor runs throughout Scripture (Jeremiah 18:1-10, Romans 9:21, 2 Timothy 2:20). Ancient Near Eastern potters possessed complete authority over clay. Isaiah's audience, familiar with pottery-making, would recognize the absurdity immediately. Yet they lived it: making political calculations as if they, not God, controlled history; devising strategies as if divine counsel were deficient.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways do we implicitly treat God as if He lacks understanding of our circumstances?
- How does anxiety reveal that we've inverted the Creator-creature relationship?
- What does it mean to embrace your status as 'clay' under the Potter's hands?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay (הַפְכְּכֶם אִם־כְּחֹמֶר הַיֹּצֵר יֵחָשֵׁב, hafkekhem im-kechomer hayotser yechasev)—their הֶפֶךְ (hefekh, overturning, perversion) treats God like חֹמֶר (chomer, clay) to be molded. For shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? (כִּי־יֹאמַר מַעֲשֶׂה לְעֹשֵׂהוּ לֹא עָשָׂנִי, ki-yomar ma'aseh le'osehu lo asani). Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? (וְיֵצֶר אָמַר לְיוֹצְרוֹ לֹא הֵבִין, veyetser amar leyotsro lo hevin)—the יֵצֶר (yetser, thing formed) claims its יוֹצֵר (yotser, potter/former) lacks בִּינָה (binah, understanding).
Paul develops this pottery metaphor extensively in Romans 9:19-21. The absurdity: clay criticizing the potter, creatures second-guessing Creator, finite man correcting the infinite God. Those who hide counsel from God have inverted the Creator-creature relationship. They act as if they formed God rather than vice versa, as if human wisdom exceeds divine understanding. This is cosmological rebellion, ontological presumption.