Isaiah 10:3

What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses corrupt leaders who have oppressed the poor and vulnerable, warning them of impending judgment. The declaration occurs during a prophetic pronouncement of coming devastation for systemic injustice.

The words — The Hebrew term פְּקֻדָּה (pe.ku.Dah) literally means "punishment," paired with שׁוֹאָה (sho.'Ah), meaning "devastation." The text uses these terms to describe the approaching event as a targeted reckoning rather than a random disaster.

The thread — The concept of inescapable reckoning runs through Hosea 9:7, which announces the arrival of the days of punishment, and Job 31:14, which questions how one will answer when God rises to judge. Luke 19:44 mirrors the finality of this judgment through the destruction of a city.

Why it lands — The text demands a direct assessment of accountability when external support systems fail. It asks the reader to confront the practical consequences of injustice before divine judgment arrives.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּמַֽה־u./mah-and/ what?תַּעֲשׂוּ֙ta.'a.Suwill you do לְי֣וֹםle./Yomto/ [the] day of פְּקֻדָּ֔הpe.ku.Dahpunishment וּלְשׁוֹאָ֖הu./le./sho.'Ahand/ to/ [the] devastation מִמֶּרְחָ֣קmi./mer.Chak[which] from/ a distance תָּב֑וֹאta.Vo'it will come עַל־'al-to מִי֙miwhom?תָּנ֣וּסוּta.Nu.suwill you flee לְעֶזְרָ֔הle./'ez.Rahfor/ help וְאָ֥נָהve./'A.nahand/ where?תַעַזְב֖וּta.'az.Vuwill you leave כְּבוֹדְכֶֽם׃ke.Vod./Khemabundance/ your

King James Version

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?

Cross-references

Hosea 9:7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
Luke 19:44 They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
Job 31:14 what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
Proverbs 11:4 Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
Isaiah 5:26 He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come!
Isaiah 20:6 And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”
Isaiah 26:21 For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.
1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Deuteronomy 28:49 The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,