Isaiah 30:14

It will break in pieces like a potter’s jar, shattered so that no fragment can be found. Not a shard will be found in the dust large enough to scoop the coals from a hearth or to skim the water from a cistern.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Isaiah pronounces this oracle to Judah’s leadership during a political crisis when they pursued Egyptian alliances instead of divine counsel. The verse addresses the imminent and sudden collapse of their rebellious plans.

The words — The text uses שְׁבֶר (she.ver, "breaking") and נֵבֶל (ne.vel, "jar") to describe a vessel shattered beyond repair. The verb שָׁבַר (sha.var, "break") and adjective כָּתוּת (ka.tut, "crushed") specify that no fragment remains intact.

The thread — This shattering imagery appears in Psalms 2:9, Jeremiah 19:10, and Revelation 2:27 to depict divine judgment on rebellious powers. Each reference employs broken pottery to illustrate complete and irreversible destruction.

Why it lands — The verse states that human strategies opposed to God’s counsel will end in total ruin, leaving no usable remnant. It requires readers to abandon prideful self-reliance and accept the offered path of repentance and rest.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּ֠שְׁבָרָהּU./she.va.ra/hand/ someone will break/ it כְּשֵׁ֨בֶרke./She.verlike/ [the] breaking of נֵ֧בֶלNe.vela jar of יוֹצְרִ֛יםyotz.Rimpotters כָּת֖וּתka.Tutcrushed לֹ֣אlo'[which] not יַחְמֹ֑לyach.Molanyone will spare וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not יִמָּצֵ֤אyi.ma.Tze'it will be found בִמְכִתָּתוֹ֙vi/m.khi.ta.T/oamong/ fragment[s]/ its חֶ֔רֶשׂChe.resa potsherd לַחְתּ֥וֹתla/ch.Totto/ snatch up אֵשׁ֙'eshfire מִיָּק֔וּדmi./ya.Kudfrom/ a fireplace וְלַחְשֹׂ֥ףve./la/ch.Sofand/ to/ scoop מַ֖יִםMa.yimwater מִגֶּֽבֶא׃ פmi./Ge.ve'from/ a cistern

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Psalms 2:9 You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
Jeremiah 19:10 Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the men who accompany you,
Revelation 2:27 He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.
2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
Jeremiah 13:14 I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”
Jeremiah 48:38 On all the rooftops of Moab and in the public squares, everyone is mourning; for I have shattered Moab like an unwanted jar,” declares the LORD.
Ezekiel 5:11 Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look upon you with pity, nor will I spare you.
Ezekiel 7:4 I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’
Ezekiel 7:9 I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you. Then you will know that it is I, the LORD, who strikes the blow.
Ezekiel 24:14 I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.”