Isaiah 8:11

The Lord of Hosts, the Only Refuge

11 For this is what the Lord said to me with great power, to keep^[a] me from going the way of this people:

Isaiah 8:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 8:11

For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand
In the strength of prophecy, as the Targum explains it; and so all the Jews' interpreters understand it of prophecy, as in ( Ezekiel 1:3 ) ( 3:14 ) : or, "the Lord spake thus to me, when he took (me) by the hand" ^F20; as parents or masters take hold of the hands of children, while they are advising and instructing them, as expressive of their great affection for them; and when they would retain them with them, or restrain them from doing amiss: and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people:
or join with them in desiring and seeking for the help of the king of Assyria, against Rezin and Remaliah's son; or in being willing to surrender up into their hands: saying;
as follows:

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (dyh tqzxb) "apprehensione manus", Piscator; "cum manu me apprehenderit", Tigurine version.

Isaiah 8:11 In-Context

9 Band together, peoples, and be broken; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for war, and be broken; prepare for war, and be broken.

10 Devise a plan; it will fail. Make a prediction; it will not happen. For God is with us.

11 For this is what the Lord said to me with great power, to keep me from going the way of this people:

12 Do not call everything an alliance these people say is an alliance. Do not fear what they fear; do not be terrified.

13 You are to regard only the Lord of Hosts as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be held in awe.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or instruct