Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 8:11

"For Jehovah spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying," — Isaiah 8:11 (ASV)

For the Lord spoke thus to me. —We enter a new section, separated, probably, by a short interval of time, but dealing with the same subject. In the “strong hand” we have an anthropomorphic phrase, implying an especially high degree of the intensity of inspiration (1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 3:15; Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 3:14; Ezekiel 3:22; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 37:1). Something had occurred which brought the prophet into a state like that of St. Paul in Acts 17:16; Acts 18:5. Indignation and zeal were roused to their highest point, and were able to resist all human pressure from without. The result was a lesson which was to be specially impressed on the disciples who gathered around the prophet.