Isaiah 10:3 kjv
And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
Isaiah 10:3 nkjv
What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory?
Isaiah 10:3 niv
What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
Isaiah 10:3 esv
What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth?
Isaiah 10:3 nlt
What will you do when I punish you,
when I send disaster upon you from a distant land?
To whom will you turn for help?
Where will your treasures be safe?
Isaiah 10 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 10:3 | And what will you do on the day of punishment, and on the destructive tempest when it comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your riches? | Prophecy of divine judgment against oppressors |
| Jeremiah 49:19-21 | Like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a continually flowing pasture, I will suddenly chase him away from it… For who is like Me? Who will summon Me? Who is the shepherd who can stand before Me? | Judgment against Edom, reflecting broader judgment themes |
| Amos 5:10-13 | They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks with integrity. Therefore, because you trample on the poor and take from him the exaction of wheat, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you will not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions and your mighty sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and who turn aside the needy in the gate. | Denunciation of injustice and oppression, leading to ruin |
| Luke 1:52 | He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. | Fulfillment in God's power over the proud and arrogant |
| Romans 11:20-22 | It is true. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you either. | Warning against arrogance and reminder of God's sovereignty |
| Revelation 6:16-17 | and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” | The fearful state of oppressors during divine judgment |
| Isaiah 2:19 | And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. | People hiding from God's awesome power during judgment |
| Isaiah 13:6-9 | Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand; it will come as destruction from the Almighty… Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. | Description of the day of the Lord as a time of fierce anger |
| Psalm 11:1 | In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my brother, “Flee like a bird to the mountain, | Trust in God's protection against impending danger |
| Jeremiah 30:7 | Alas! For that day is so great, there is none like it. It is the time of Jacob's distress, but he shall be saved out of it. | The distress of God's people, but ultimate deliverance |
| Hosea 10:13-14 | You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you trusted in your own strength and in the multitude of your warriors, therefore the noise of battle shall arise against your fortresses, and all your walls shall fall. | Consequence of wickedness and misplaced trust |
| Micah 7:1-2 | Woe is me! For I am like when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat, my soul longed for the first ripe fruit. The godly has perished from the earth, and there is none upright among men; they all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net. | Describing a time of great moral decay and societal collapse |
| Zephaniah 1:12-13 | At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ Their goods shall become a plunder, and their houses a desolation. They shall build houses, but not dwell in them; they shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine. | Judgment on those who feel secure in their sin |
| Proverbs 18:23 | The poor uses entreaties, but the rich answers harshly. | Contrasting the speech of the poor and the rich |
| Isaiah 1:23 | Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and seeks rewards. They do not judge the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come before them. | Description of corrupt leadership similar to the context of oppression |
| Matthew 25:41-46 | Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ ... And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. | Jesus' parable of judgment, contrasting eternal reward and punishment |
| Psalm 37:35-36 | I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading like a luxuriant tree in its native soil. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; I sought him, but he could not be found. | The transience of wicked power and prosperity |
| Isaiah 5:30 | and the roar of them will roar on that day like the roar of the sea. He will look toward the land, and behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds. | Vivid imagery of divine wrath and the terror it brings |
| Ezekiel 22:30-31 | And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. | Lack of intercessors and the consequence of divine wrath |
| Proverbs 28:3 | When the wicked increase, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. | The cycle of wickedness and the eventual downfall of the wicked |
Isaiah 10 verses
Isaiah 10 3 Meaning
The verse describes the inevitable judgment and sorrow that will befall oppressors, leaving the vulnerable without a protector or helper in their time of need. It signifies the complete dismantling of their power structure.
Isaiah 10 3 Context
Chapter 10 of Isaiah focuses on divine judgment against the proud and oppressive nations, particularly Assyria, and by extension, any people who trust in their own might and oppress others. This verse speaks to the leaders and powerful entities who exploit the vulnerable and accumulate wealth through unjust means. The historical context is the looming threat of the Assyrian empire, which exerted immense power and often treated conquered nations with cruelty and exploitation. The prophecy serves as a warning of the inevitable downfall of such systems of oppression, emphasizing God's ultimate justice.
Isaiah 10 3 Word Analysis
- וְאֶתָּה (wə’et•tâh): "and what will you do?" - Emphasizes the utter helplessness and futility of actions when divine judgment arrives. It is a rhetorical question highlighting the absence of options.
- בְּיוֹם (bə•yōm): "in the day" - Refers to a specific time of reckoning, judgment, or visitation by God.
- פְּקֻדָּה (pə•qu•dâ•h): "punishment," "visitation," "account" - Carries the dual meaning of God's active looking into a situation and the consequent judgment or accounting.
- וּבְשַׁעַת (ū•šə•‘â•ṯ): "and in the time" or "and at the time" - Similar to "day of visitation," it signifies a critical moment.
- חָרְבָּן (ḥor•bân): "destruction," "devastation," "ruin" - Denotes a state of being laid waste, utter desolation.
- מִן•מֶרְחַק (min•mer•ḥâq): "from afar," "from a distance" - Indicates that the source of destruction, while distant in origin, will eventually arrive and impact the targeted nation or individuals.
- לְמִי (lə•mî): "to whom?" - A pronoun asking about the recipient of aid.
- תִּמְלְטוּ (tim•lə•ṭû): "will you escape," "will you flee" - Expresses the idea of fleeing for safety and deliverance.
- לְזָרִים (lə•zā•rîm): "for the rich," "for the wealthy," "for strangers" - Refers to their accumulated possessions or possibly false helpers. The most common interpretation links it to their riches or valuables, implying no wealth will offer refuge.
- עֶזְרָה (‘ez•râ): "help," "aid," "succor" - The very thing that will be absent when they need it most.
- וְאֵי (wə•’ê): "and where?" - Similar to "to whom," this question seeks the location of refuge.
- תַּנִּיחוּ (tan•nî•ḥû): "will you leave," "will you deposit," "will you preserve" - Refers to leaving or storing one's valuables or even themselves for safety.
- יְקָרְכֶם (yə•qâr•kem): "your precious things," "your honor," "your wealth," "your glory" - Denotes their treasures, valuable possessions, or indeed, their esteemed status and wealth.
Groups of words:
- "Day of punishment and time of destruction from afar" (בְּיוֹם פְּקֻדָּה וּבְשַׁעַת חָרְבָּן מִן•מֶרְחַק): This phrase powerfully combines divine oversight and impending catastrophe, emphasizing a future, unavoidable calamity originating from a distance.
- "To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your riches?" (לְמִי תִּמְלְטוּ לְעֶזְרָה, וְאֵי תַנִּיחוּ יְקָרְכֶם): This is a paired rhetorical question that highlights the complete loss of all possible means of escape and the ultimate worthlessness of their wealth in the face of divine judgment. It signifies the desolation of their security systems.
Isaiah 10 3 Bonus Section
The concept of "help from afar" and leaving one's "precious things" resonates with several broader biblical themes:
- Divine Sovereignty: God is depicted as being in control of all nations and historical events, capable of bringing judgment from any direction or distance.
- Critique of Materialism: The verse strongly criticizes an over-reliance on wealth for security, a recurring theme in prophetic literature and Jesus' teachings (e.g., Matthew 6:19-20, Luke 12:33).
- Justice for the Oppressed: The verse is part of a larger prophetic outcry against social injustice and the exploitation of the poor and vulnerable, as seen in many other prophetic passages.
- Day of the Lord: This "day of punishment" is characteristic of the eschatological "Day of the Lord," a time of divine reckoning and judgment upon all unrighteousness.
- The term "riches" (יְקָרְכֶם) can also be interpreted as their "honors" or "glory," suggesting that not only their material wealth but also their status and reputation will be stripped away in the day of judgment. This emphasizes a total downfall, not merely financial loss.
Isaiah 10 3 Commentary
Isaiah 10:3 is a stark pronouncement against those who accumulate wealth and power through oppression, relying on their material possessions and might for security. God declares that when His judgment comes, personified as a destructive storm approaching from a distance, all their sources of refuge and all their valuable possessions will prove utterly useless. They will have nowhere to run for help, and their treasures will offer no sanctuary. This verse underscores the transience of earthly power and wealth when contrasted with divine sovereignty and judgment. It serves as a powerful warning against misplaced trust in human endeavors and material possessions rather than in God. The ultimate point is the inevitability of God’s justice and the folly of those who exploit and oppress, believing they are beyond His reach.