Isaiah 10:15
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
Note d'étude
Study Note
The satirical question — 'shall the axe boast itself against him that hews with it? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shakes it?' — demolishes Assyria's pride by exposing the absurdity of a tool claiming independent power over its user. Assyria is portrayed as God's instrument of judgment (10:5-6) who exceeded its commission and now claims glory for what God accomplished through it. The tool-and-craftsman analogy became a key image in discussions of divine sovereignty and human agency — Chrysostom, Calvin, and Barth all drew on this passage to articulate how God uses secondary causes without surrendering his primary initiative. The broader unit (10:12-19) announces the Assyrian empire's coming judgment for its arrogance, a historical fulfillment partially realized in 701 BCE.
Autres traductions
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? shall the saw magnify itself against him that wieldeth it? as if a rod should wield them that lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up him that is not wood.
--Doth the axe glorify itself Against him who is hewing with it? Doth the saw magnify itself Against him who is shaking it? As a rod waving those lifting it up! As a staff lifting up that which is not wood!
Will the axe say high-sounding words against him who is using it, or the blade be full of pride against him who is cutting with it? As if a rod had the power of shaking him who is using it, or as if a stick might take up him who is not wood.
Références croisées
Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, …
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of …
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the …
Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and …
I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in …
Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no …
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed …
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another …