Isaiah 10:3 - Printer Friendly

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?

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?

NASB: Now what will you do in the day of punishment, And in the devastation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth?

CSB: What will you do on the day of punishment when devastation comes from far away? Who will you run to for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

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?

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?

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 has proclaimed "woe" on those in Israel who used their positions of political power to write laws that harm the powerless and the poor (Isaiah 10:1). These leaders have manipulated the civic code to their advantage. Through their actions they are stealing the rights and possessions of orphans and widows (Isaiah 10:2).

The prophet now asks them what they will do on the day of punishment. From the context of the chapter, he is clearly referring to the coming destruction from the Assyrian army (Isaiah 10:5). Those in Israel who imagined themselves powerful will soon discover they have no strength over the ruthless Assyrian Empire. Those who held power are asked to whom they will turn for help and where their wealth will end up. They will no longer be able to turn to the Lord to save them. They will soon find their wickedly gained money powerless against the Lord's judgment.

Isaiah 10:1–4 begins with Isaiah's declaration of woe. These are against those in Israel and Judah who use the local laws to take advantage of the poor and needy for financial gain. He asks what these rich people will do when the day of punishment comes. What good will their wealth be then? Nothing will be left for them but to die or to cower among those taken captive. The Lord's anger with them will not be satisfied even then.

Isaiah declares woe on those in Israel and Judah who use the law to take advantage of the poor. These people will not escape the Lord's judgment. He next describes the Assyrians as the Lord's staff of judgment against the godless nation that is His people. When He is done punishing His people, the Lord will turn His anger on the Assyrians, nearly destroying them. Eventually, a remnant of Israelites will return to faith in the Lord. Destruction will come, but it will not consume everything. The Lord will triumph over Assyria.

Isaiah 10 follows prophecies about God's judgment on Israel for the nation's sins. It begins pronouncing sorrow for those who oppress the poor and needy. He also declares woe on the Assyrians, whom the Lord is using to judge His people Israel. Soon, the Lord will direct His anger against the Assyrians for the arrogance of their king. He will burn them down as a forest. A remnant of Israel will survive the Assyrian judgment and trust the Lord again. His anger will turn from Israel to Assyria. The Assyrian oppression of Israel will be ended.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).