The Hebrew chozqah is closely related to chezqah and appears to describe strength in its active, vehement expression. Isaiah 8:11 says: 'This is what the LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people.' The word suggests not merely strength in reserve but strength breaking forth in action β the LORD's hand pressing down in urgent warning.
The prophetic experience of divine chozqah was not always comfortable. Isaiah was warned not to follow the popular path (Isaiah 8:11-15) β the crowd's wisdom, the political calculation, the fear of nations. God's strong hand pressed the prophet in the opposite direction: 'The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy.' The strength of God's hand was also the pressure of his counter-cultural will. True prophetic ministry has always involved this chozqah β the divine hand redirecting the prophet against the grain of his culture.