Isaiah 8:11
in Isaiah 8For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people:
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For Jehovah spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,
KJV
For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
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This verse in Isaiah 8
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For the Lord spake thus - Spake that which immediately follows in the next verse. Warned him not to Unite in the alliance with foreign kingdoms which the nation was about forming. With a strong hand - Margin, ‘With strength of hand.’ That is, when the hand of God urged me.
This site's exposition
the LORD has spoken to me
on Isaiah 8:11-13
The Lord speaks to Isaiah, instructing him "not to walk in the way of this people," whose fear of conspiracy had gripped Ahaz. Isaiah must "not fear what they fear" and must regard the LORD of Hosts alone as holy. The instruction sets the prophet apart from the people.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 11 onwards) For thus says the Lord to me: As He has taught me with His mighty hand, so that I do not walk in the way of this people, saying: Do not say, 'conspiracy'; everything this people says is a conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear or be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself, let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread. And He will be a sanctuary for you, but for the two houses of Israel, He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
The Medieval Church1 voice
283. For the Lord says these things to me. Here the instruction of the people is set out: and first, he teaches them what is not to be feared, second, what is to be feared: sanctify the Lord of hosts (Isa 8:13). The first is …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand,....
The word that comes from the heart is most likely to reach to the heart; and what we are ourselves by the grace of God instructed in we should, as we are able, teach others also. Now what is it that he says to God's people? (1.) He cautions them against a sinful fear,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
with a strong hand--or else, "when He grasped me with His hand" [HORSLEY]. MAURER, as English Version, "with the impetus of His hand," that is, the felt impulse of His inspiration in my mind (Jer 15:17;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
With a strong hand “As taking me by the hand” - Eleven MSS., (two ancient), of Kennicott’s, thirty-four of De Rossi’s, and seven editions, read כחזקת kechezkath; and so Symmachus, the Syriac, and Vulgate. Or rather with a strong hand, that is, with a strong and powerful influence of the prophetic Spirit.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
with the overwhelming power of prophecy [Lit., with strength of the hand.] When the prophecy became more intensive over me, when He continued to speak concerning this matter, as it is written above (v. 5): “And the Lord continued to speak to me.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
‘You shall not call a band You of Hezekiah’s company, even though they (sic) are fewer than Shebna’s company, you shall not say: We decide according to the majority (Exodus:2. See Rashi ad loc.).
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּי֩ | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כֹ֨ה | khoh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָמַ֧ר | ʾamar | he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| יְהוָ֛ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֵלַ֖י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כְּחֶזְקַ֣ת | kechezkat | according to [the] strength of | H2393 → | |
| הַיָּ֑ד | haiyad | the hand | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| וְיִסְּרֵ֕נִי | veyisereni | and he will instruct me | H3256 → | |
| מִלֶּ֛כֶת | milekhet | from walking | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ | bederekh | in [the] way of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| הָֽעָם־ | haom- | the people | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| הַזֶּ֖ה | hazeh | <the> this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| לֵאמֹֽר׃ | lemor | <to> saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
כִּי֩for
kiH3588 →4482 times
כֹ֨הthus
khohH3541 →577 times
אָמַ֧רhe said
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
יְהוָ֛הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֵלַ֖יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
כְּחֶזְקַ֣תaccording to [the] strength of
kechezkatH2393 →
הַיָּ֑דthe hand
haiyadH3027 →1618 times
וְיִסְּרֵ֕נִיand he will instruct me
veyisereniH3256 →
מִלֶּ֛כֶתfrom walking
milekhetH1980 →1546 times
בְּדֶ֥רֶךְin [the] way of
bederekhH1870 →707 times
הָֽעָם־the people
haom-H5971 →1873 times
הַזֶּ֖ה<the> this
hazehH2088 →1180 times
לֵאמֹֽר׃<to> saying
lemorH559 →5305 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 32:8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- Psalms 33:18
Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
- Psalms 25:8–10
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
- Matthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Proverbs 8:10–11
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Through
Jeremiah 15:19Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence. And if you speak words that are noble instead of worthless, you will be…
it leads to
- Zechariah 3:7
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, then you will govern My house and will also have charge of My courts; and I…
- Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- Leviticus 10:10
You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean,
- Zechariah 3:7
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.