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,
Isaiah 8:11 nkjv
For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:
Isaiah 8:11 niv
This is what the LORD says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:
Isaiah 8:11 esv
For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying:
Isaiah 8:11 nlt
The LORD has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said,
Isaiah 8 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 8:11 | "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," | Direct Command (Instruction) |
| Deuteronomy 18:9 | "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations." | Prohibition of heathen practices |
| Leviticus 18:30 | "Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye therewith defile not yourselves: I am the LORD your God." | Call to holiness |
| Psalm 1:1 | "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." | Distinction from the ungodly |
| Jeremiah 10:2 | "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them." | Similar warning |
| 1 Corinthians 10:14 | "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." | Flee from harmful influences |
| Romans 12:2 | "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." | Transformation not conformity |
| 1 John 5:21 | "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." | Final exhortation against idols |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." | Works of the flesh |
| 1 Peter 4:3 | "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the nations: when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:" | Past life of nations' ways |
| Deuteronomy 6:14 | "Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;" | Exclusivity of worship |
| Isaiah 43:10 | "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." | God's unique identity |
| Exodus 20:3-5 | "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;" | First and Second Commandments |
| Ephesians 4:14 | "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" | Warning against deception |
| Philippians 2:15 | "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" | Shining lights in the world |
| Colossians 2:8 | "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." | Warning against worldly wisdom |
| Zechariah 7:11-12 | "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts." | Rejection of God's word |
| John 17:14 | "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." | Not of the world |
| 1 Corinthians 5:6 | "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveth the whole lump?" | Influence of corrupting elements |
| 1 John 2:15 | "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." | Love not the world |
Isaiah 8 verses
Isaiah 8 11 Meaning
The verse conveys a divine prohibition against adopting the practices and sorceries of the surrounding nations. It emphasizes the Lord's instruction to His people not to learn or follow their ways, signifying a call to distinctiveness and exclusive allegiance to God.
Isaiah 8 11 Context
In chapter 8 of Isaiah, the prophet is given a specific instruction from the Lord concerning a sign. He is told to take a large scroll and write upon it with an ordinary pen the words "To the Speedy spolization, To the Prey" in relation to the imminent destruction of both Samaria (the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel) and Syria. This prophecy serves as a warning to Judah about the consequences of their unfaithfulness and their alliance with Syria against the Assyrian threat. The subsequent verses, including verse 11, speak to Isaiah’s commission to his people, distinguishing them from the ways of the surrounding nations, particularly in their spiritual and religious practices. The historical context involves the Syro-Ephraimitic war, where Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel united against Judah. Isaiah's message is one of judgment for sin and a call to trust in the Lord alone, rather than in the "ways of this people" – referring to those who would turn to pagan practices or misguided alliances.
Isaiah 8 11 Word analysis
For (Hebrew: כִּי, ki): Introduces a reason or cause for the following statement.
the Lord (Hebrew: יְהוָה, Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His active relationship with His people.
spake (Hebrew: דִּבֵּר, dibber): Spoke, communicated; implying a direct and authoritative message.
thus (Hebrew: כֹּה, koh): In this manner, like this; referring to the instruction that follows.
to me (Hebrew: אֵלַי, 'elay): Directed specifically at the prophet Isaiah.
with (Hebrew: בְּ, be): Can denote "in," "with," or "by." Here, it signifies the manner or mode of instruction.
a strong (Hebrew: חָזָק, chazaq): Strong, mighty, powerful. Indicates the forceful and urgent nature of God's communication.
hand (Hebrew: יָד, yad): Symbolizes power, authority, and active intervention. The "strong hand" implies God's sovereign control and forceful instruction.
and (Hebrew: וְ, ve): Conjunction connecting phrases or clauses.
instructed (Hebrew: יִסֵּר, yasser): To chasten, correct, train, discipline, instruct. It carries a sense of shaping and guiding through discipline or teaching.
me (Hebrew: אוֹתִי, 'oti): The object pronoun referring to Isaiah.
that (Hebrew: לְבִלְתִּי, libleḥī): Here used to express purpose, indicating the goal of the instruction.
I (Hebrew: אֲנִי, 'ani): The subject pronoun, Isaiah.
should not (Hebrew: לֹא, lo): Negation particle.
walk (Hebrew: הָלַךְ, halakh): To go, walk, proceed; metaphorically means to live, to behave, to follow a way or course of action.
in (Hebrew: בְּ, be): In or by means of.
the way (Hebrew: דֶּרֶךְ, derekh): Path, road, manner, course of life, custom.
of this (Hebrew: הַזֶּה, hazzeh): This particular; pointing to a specific group.
people (Hebrew: הָעָם, ha'am): The people, specifically referring to the nation (often used to refer to Israel or other nations).
saying (Hebrew: לֵאמֹר, le'mor): To say, speaking; introduces the specific command.
Group analysis: "with a strong hand, and instructed me" - This phrase emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the instruction. God’s powerful intervention (strong hand) was the source of His teaching (instructed me), underscoring that this was not merely advice but a divine mandate delivered with great weight. This "strong hand" is also seen in God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 13:3, 9).
Group analysis: "should not walk in the way of this people" - This signifies a call for spiritual and ethical separation. "This people" likely refers to the apostate elements within Israel and Judah, or perhaps even the pagan nations surrounding them, whose practices God condemned. The instruction is to avoid imitating their harmful customs and their spiritual departure from the Lord.
Isaiah 8 11 Bonus section
This verse sets a pattern for believers throughout history: the call to be distinct from the surrounding culture, particularly in spiritual matters. The concept of not walking "in the way of this people" echoes throughout Scripture, urging followers of God to live according to His statutes and not to be influenced by the world's corrupting practices. This is further elaborated in the New Testament, where believers are called to be "in the world, but not of the world," transforming their minds rather than conforming to worldly patterns. The condemnation of "sorceries" (which the subsequent verse details) directly points to a rejection of occult practices and reliance on God's power and guidance alone.
Isaiah 8 11 Commentary
The Lord’s instruction to Isaiah was a clear directive for his prophetic conduct and message. It commanded him to actively differentiate himself and God's true people from the corrupt spiritual and cultural practices of their contemporaries. This separation was essential for maintaining faithfulness and trust in Jehovah alone, rather than resorting to pagan divination, idolatry, or syncretistic worship, which were common among surrounding nations. The "strong hand" signifies the power and immediacy of this divine command, and "instructed" implies a thorough teaching or disciplining process to ensure Isaiah adhered to this distinct path. This prohibition is rooted in the covenant, requiring exclusive devotion to Yahweh and a rejection of any spiritual syncretism or dependence on other powers or practices that displeased God.