The Meaning of Isaiah 30:14 Explained

Isaiah 30:14

KJV: 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.

YLT: And He hath broken it As the breaking of the potters' bottle, Beaten down -- He doth not spare, Nor is there found, in its beating down, A potsherd to take fire from the burning, And to draw out waters from a ditch.

Darby: And he shall break it as the breaking of a potter's vessel, that is broken in pieces unsparingly; and in the pieces of it there shall not be found a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to scoop water out of the cistern.

ASV: And he shall break it as a potter's vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces thereof a sherd wherewith to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Isaiah 30:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 30:1-17 - Fatal Reliance On Human Aid
Toward the close of the 8th century, b.c. Jerusalem sent ambassadors to seek help from Egypt against Assyria, in distinct defiance of God's repeated warnings. Isaiah denounced this as adding sin to sin. Even though their princes reached Zoan and Hanes, capital cities, and succeeded in their object, it would not help them. The beasts of burden might traverse the deserts with presents and bribes, but all would be in vain. These truths, however, were unpalatable, and the politicians endeavored to silence the prophet, Isaiah 30:9-11. All sin recoils on the sinner. At first his efforts seem to protect him, but soon the wall begins to bulge, then it totters, finally it falls. The true policy, urged by Isaiah in Isaiah 30:15, would be to renounce these efforts for Egyptian help and return to rest in the loving care of God. In returning and rest they would be saved! Oh, that we were more quiet and calm in the face of danger, hushing our fears, stilling our throbbing hearts, and leaning back on the everlasting arms! God cannot fail you, ye fearful saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 30

1  The prophet threatens the people for their confidence in Egypt
8  And contempt of God's word
18  God's mercies toward his church
27  God's wrath and the people's joy, in the destruction of Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 30:14 mean?

And He shall break it like the breaking of the vessel of potter which is broken in pieces not He shall spare so not there shall be found among its fragments a shard to take fire from the hearth Or to take water from the cistern -
וּ֠שְׁבָרָהּ כְּשֵׁ֨בֶר נֵ֧בֶל יוֹצְרִ֛ים כָּת֖וּת לֹ֣א יַחְמֹ֑ל וְלֹֽא־ יִמָּצֵ֤א בִמְכִתָּתוֹ֙ חֶ֔רֶשׂ לַחְתּ֥וֹת אֵשׁ֙ מִיָּק֔וּד וְלַחְשֹׂ֥ף מַ֖יִם מִגֶּֽבֶא פ

וּ֠שְׁבָרָהּ  And  He  shall  break  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
כְּשֵׁ֨בֶר  like  the  breaking 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁבֶר 
Sense: breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash, ruin, shattering.
נֵ֧בֶל  of  the  vessel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root:  
Sense: a skin-bag, jar, pitcher.
יוֹצְרִ֛ים  of  potter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
כָּת֖וּת  which  is  broken  in  pieces 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: כָּתַת  
Sense: to beat, crush by beating, crush to pieces, crush fine.
יַחְמֹ֑ל  He  shall  spare 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָמַל 
Sense: (Qal) to spare, pity, have compassion on.
וְלֹֽא־  so  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִמָּצֵ֤א  there  shall  be  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
בִמְכִתָּתוֹ֙  among  its  fragments 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מְכִתָּה  
Sense: crushed or pulverised fragments.
חֶ֔רֶשׂ  a  shard 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶרֶשׂ  
Sense: earthenware, clay pottery, shard, potsherd, earthen vessel.
לַחְתּ֥וֹת  to  take 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָתָה  
Sense: (Qal) to take hold of, seize, take away, pile up, snatch up (coals).
אֵשׁ֙  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
מִיָּק֔וּד  from  the  hearth 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָקַד 
Sense: to burn, kindle, be kindled.
וְלַחְשֹׂ֥ף  Or  to  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חֲשׂוּפַי 
Sense: to strip, strip off, lay bare, make bare, draw out.
מַ֖יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מִגֶּֽבֶא  from  the  cistern 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּבֶא  
Sense: cistern, pool.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation