Isaiah 45:11

God's will and calling

⁹ 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’?

¹⁰ Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’”

Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “How dare you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?

¹² It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.

¹³ I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “How dare you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?
KJV: Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
WEB: The LORD, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker says: “You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands!
ASV: Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me.
DARBY: Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me.
BLB: Thus says YHWH, the Holy One of Israel, and the One having made him: “Will you⁺ ask Me of things to come? About My sons and about the work of My hands, will you⁺ command Me?

ÅB: Så sier Herren, Israels Hellige, han som skapte det: Spør meg om de kommende ting! La meg dra omsorg for mine barn og for mine henders verk!
OTB: Så sier Herren—Israels Hellige, og dens Skaper: Når det gjelder ting som skal komme, spør du meg om mine barn, eller gir du meg ordre om mine henders verk?
B1930: Så sier Herren, Israels Hellige, han som skapte det: Spør mig om de kommende ting! La mig dra omsorg for mine barn og for mine henders verk!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Read in context
Isaiah 48:17
Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.
Read in context
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Read in context
Ezekiel 36:37
This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do for them this: I will multiply their people like a flock.
Read in context
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
Read in context
Isaiah 29:23
For when he sees his children around him, the work of My hands, they will honor My name, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and they will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
Read in context
Joshua 10:12
On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
Read in context
Isaiah 43:21
The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.
Read in context