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Isaiah 64:8
But now, Yahweh, you are our Father. We are the clay and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand.
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Interpretation

The prophet calls a clay and potter that is worked out in relationships and commitments in Isaiah 64:8—look for "yahweh" and "father". Let clay and potter in conversations that test patience—steady the will with prayer.

Context

The setting is Isaiah—prophetic oracle, developing clay and potter. Read in Isaiah 64, its force becomes clearer. It also intersects prophetic hope & judgment. Listen for “yahweh” alongside “father”.

Authorship & Historical Background

Early sources associate Isaiah with the prophet Isaiah. A common scholarly view of Isaiah: Scholars often distinguish major sections (sometimes called Deutero/Trito‑Isaiah).. Date: 8th–5th century BC. This verse leans into prophetic hope & judgment. Chs 40–55 commonly exilic (Deutero). Chs 56–66 commonly post‑exilic (Trito). A long compositional arc is often proposed (Proto/Deutero/Trito).

More details
Traditional:Isaiah son of Amoz
Modern scholarship:Multiple authors (Proto‑, Deutero‑, Trito‑Isaiah).
Date:8th–5th century BC
  • Chs 40–55 commonly exilic (Deutero).
  • Chs 56–66 commonly post‑exilic (Trito).
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Masoretic tradition preserves the Hebrew text, standardized c. 6th-10th centuries CE. The Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered 1947-1956) provide manuscripts 1000+ years older than medieval texts, generally confirming the Masoretic Text's reliability with only minor variations. The Septuagint (Greek translation, 3rd-2nd century BCE) offers an independent textual witness. Variations between manuscripts are typically minor: spelling differences, word order, or clarifications that do not alter the main meaning. Modern translations compare all available manuscripts to reconstruct the most probable original wording text.
Sources & witness notes
MT