Isaiah 10:15 - Exposition

Shall the axe boast itself ? Here the prophet takes the word, and rebukes Assyria for her folly in forgetting, or not perceiving, that she is a mere instrument, like an axe, a saw, a rod, or a stuff. The saw … him that shaketh it; rather, him that moveth it to and fro . The action of sawing is alluded to. As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up ; rather, as if a rod were to move them to and fro that lift it up . For Assyria to assert herself as if she were independent of God is like a rod attempting to sway the hand that holds it. It is a complete inversion of the natural order of things. Or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood . Translate, or as if d staff should lift up that which is not wood ; i.e. "as if a staff should take action and lift up its holder, who is not wood, but flesh and blood."