The Meaning of Isaiah 8:11 Explained

Isaiah 8:11

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,

YLT: For thus hath Jehovah spoken unto me with strength of hand, and instructeth me against walking in the way of this people, saying,

Darby: For Jehovah spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and he instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

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 Reverse Interlinear

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, 

What does Isaiah 8:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Having received two signs of God"s dealing with them in the immediate crisis that they faced, plus accompanying warnings, the people of Judah next received additional incentives to trust Yahweh.
Isaiah now passed along instruction that Yahweh had powerfully given him, warning him against following the popular reliance on human strength. God had been teaching Isaiah that He had brought the Assyrians to power. To oppose Assyria now was to oppose God. [1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 8:5-18 - Fear God's Power, Not Man's
It seems likely that Syria and Samaria attacked Ahaz because he would not join in a federation against the growing power of Assyria. A strong party seems to have pressed this policy on him, but in all such schemes they repudiated the Divine Protection, Isaiah 8:6. Compare Psalms 46:4. Ahaz and the court party on the other hand, sought to federate with Assyria. But Isaiah never ceased to urge that the true line of defense was to put away whatever was inconsistent with the fear of God. He would be the sanctuary of defense and hiding in the day of trouble, Isaiah 8:13-14. We learn from Hebrews 2:13, how absolutely, when speaking thus, the prophet was being prompted by the Holy Spirit. If men will not build on God's foundation-stone, they fall over it to their hurt. Compare Isaiah 8:15 and Matthew 21:44. Are we not all in danger of substituting human alliances for federation and union with the eternal God? Let our fellowship be with the Father and the Son; and let us wait for Him till the day dawn and the day star shines, 2 Peter 1:19. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 8

1  In Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, he prophesies Syria and Israel shall be subdued by Assyria
5  Judah likewise for their infidelity
9  God's judgments shall be irresistible
11  Comfort shall be to those who fear God
19  Great afflictions to idolaters

What do the individual words in Isaiah 8:11 mean?

For thus spoke Yahweh to me with strong a hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of people this saying
כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י כְּחֶזְקַ֣ת הַיָּ֑ד וְיִסְּרֵ֕נִי מִלֶּ֛כֶת בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ הָֽעָם־ הַזֶּ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר

כֹ֨ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֧ר  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֵלַ֖י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כְּחֶזְקַ֣ת  with  strong 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חֶזְקָה  
Sense: strength, strong, being strong, force.
הַיָּ֑ד  a  hand 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְיִסְּרֵ֕נִי  and  instructed  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: יָסַר 
Sense: to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish.
מִלֶּ֛כֶת  that  I  should  not  walk 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ  in  the  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
הָֽעָם־  of  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַזֶּ֖ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
לֵאמֹֽר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.