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Isaiah 10:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 10:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness;
2to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
3And 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?
4They shall only bow down under the prisoners, and shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
5Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation!
6I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And what will ye do in the day of visitation, &c.] Not in a way of grace and mercy, but of wrath and anger, as the following clause explains it, when God should come and punish them for their sins; and so the Targum, “what will ye do in the day that your sins shall be visited upon you?” it designs the Babylonish captivity, as the next words show; the same phrase is used of the destruction of the Jews by the Romans, (<421944>Luke 19:44): and in the desolation [which] shall come from far? from Assyria, which was distant from the land of Judea: the wordf178 for “desolation” signifies a storm, tumult, noise, and confusion; referring to what would be made by the Assyrian army, when it came upon…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“what will ye do--what way of escape will there be for you? visitation--of God's wrath (Isa 26:14; Job 35:15; Hos 9:7). from far--from Assyria. leave . . . glory--rather, "deposit (for safekeeping) your wealth" [LOWTH]. So Psa 49:17.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And what will ye do - The prophet here proceeds to denounce the judgment, or punishment, that would follow the crimes specified in the previous verses. That punishment was the invasion of the land by a foreign force. ‘What will ye do? To whom will you fly? What refuge will them be?’ Implying that the calamity would be so great that there would be no refuge, or escape. In the day of visitation - The word “visitation” (פקדה peqûddâh) is used here in the sense of God’s coming to punish them for their sins; compare Job 31:14; Job 35:15; Isaiah 26:14; Ezekiel 9:1. The idea is probably derived from that of a master of a family who comes to take account, or to investigate the conduct of his…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“From far - From the Assyrians. This he adds, because the Israelites, having weakened the Jews and being in amity with the Assyrians their next neighbours, were secure. Leave - To be kept safe for your use. Glory - Your wealth. Isaiah 10:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“10:3 The implied answer to Isaiah’s rhetorical questions was that there would be no one to turn to when God punished Judah. • Disaster came first from the distant land of Assyria and later from Babylon.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“And what: Isa 20:6, Isa 33:14; Job 31:14; Jer 5:31; Eze 24:13, Eze 24:14; Rev 6:15, Rev 6:16 the day: Isa 26:21; Hos 9:7; Luk 19:44; Pe1 2:12 in the desolation: Isa 5:26, Isa 30:27, Isa 30:28, Isa 39:3, Isa 39:6, Isa 39:7; Deu 28:49 to whom: Isa 30:1-3, Isa 30:16, Isa 31:1-3; Hos 5:13 where: Isa 2:20, Isa 2:21, Isa 5:14; Gen 31:1; Kg2 7:6-8, Kg2 7:15; Psa 49:16, Psa 49:17; Pro 11:4; Zep 1:18 Isaiah 10:4”
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Related study paths

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