John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 25:11

"And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst thereof, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth [his hands] to swim; but [Jehovah] will lay low his pride together with the craft of his hands." — Isaiah 25:11 (ASV)

And he shall spread out. The Prophet now explains and confirms the previous statement, but he employs a different metaphor, meaning that the Lord will spread out his hand to the innermost part of the country of Moab, and not merely to its extremities. Some explain the metaphor in this way: “As the arms are stretched out in swimming, so the Lord will chastise the Moabites on all sides.” Others think that it expresses the doubling of punishments, as if he were saying, “The Lord will not only punish the Moabites, but will again and again take vengeance for the cruelty which they inflicted upon the children of God.”

But we might take another way of explaining that metaphor. Those who swim do not rush forward with the utmost violence, but gently spread out and quickly draw back their arms, and yet they cut and subdue the waters. In like manner, the Lord does not always put forth great strength to cut down the wicked, but without any effort, without the use of armies, without any noise or uproar, he destroys and puts them to flight, however valiant or well-prepared for battle they may appear to be. And I approve of this explanation, because it takes nothing from the meaning previously given, and explains more clearly that the wicked are often brought to nothing by the hand of God, though he does not openly thunder from heaven. When he says, “In the midst of it,” he shows that no part will be hidden so that it will not be overtaken by this vengeance.