Isaiah 40:6
A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The surprising twist here is that the prophet, upon hearing the command to "Cry!", asks, "What shall I cry?" This isn't doubt, but a profound question about the essence of what is truly valuable. His answer, "All flesh is grass," reveals that the message isn't about human achievements or glories, but about their absolute transience compared to God's enduring word.
A voice issues a command to "Cry out!" The prophet, in response, questions what he should proclaim, prompting a profound declaration about the fleeting nature of humanity. This follows God's earlier promise to comfort His people and precedes the revelation of His glory, setting up a contrast between human frailty and God's enduring word.
Imagine hearing a voice, a direct command from God, telling you to 'Cry out!' What would you say? This verse plunges us into that very moment.
The passage opens with a clear divine imperative: 'A voice says, “Cry!”' This isn't a suggestion; it's a command. The prophet, responding with a crucial question, 'What shall I cry?', seeks clarity on the message. This exchange highlights the prophet's role as a messenger, one who speaks not of his own accord but as directed by God. The Hebrew word translated as 'cry' or 'proclaim' implies a public, urgent announcement. It's a call to deliver a significant message, one that carries the weight of divine authority and is intended for all to hear.
Everything we cherish – our beauty, our achievements, our very lives – seems so significant. But what if it's all as temporary as a field flower?
The answer to 'What shall I cry?' is profound: 'All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.' This isn't just a poetic comparison; it's a theological statement about the inherent frailty and transience of human existence and all its accomplishments. 'Flesh' here represents humanity in its entirety – its strength, its glory, its perceived permanence. But it's all likened to grass, which withers quickly, and to a flower, which blooms brilliantly for a short season before fading. This stark contrast is meant to humble us, reminding us that our ultimate security and value cannot be found in ourselves or in earthly things, which are destined to pass away.
If everything human fades, what remains? This verse holds a powerful counterpoint that anchors our hope in something unshakable.
While the verse starkly contrasts the transience of humanity with the fleeting nature of grass and flowers, its purpose is not simply to despair. The broader context of Isaiah 40, and explicitly the verses that follow (40:8), reveal the underlying truth: God’s Word is eternal and will stand. The fading of human glory serves to highlight the permanence and reliability of God’s promises and His character. This is a crucial theological point – it redirects our focus from what is temporary and unreliable (ourselves, our achievements, the world) to what is everlasting and trustworthy (God and His Word). The command to 'Cry!' is ultimately about proclaiming this enduring reality amidst human frailty.
Understand the original words
bāśār · Hebrew Noun
Refers to humanity in its entirety, emphasizing its frailty, mortality, and dependence upon God. It contrasts the temporary nature of human life with the eternal nature of God.
This prophecy comes during the Babylonian exile, a time of national despair. Isaiah powerfully contrasts the fleeting nature of human power and glory (grass and flowers) with the eternal, unshakeable faithfulness of God, offering profound hope for return and restoration.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the First Temple, and deport many Judeans, marking a devastating low point for the nation.
c. 586-539 BC— this verse
Babylonian Exile
Judean exiles live in a foreign land, experiencing loss of homeland, temple worship, and national sovereignty. This period deeply shapes their identity and faith.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
Persian King Cyrus conquers the Babylonian Empire, creating a new geopolitical reality and offering hope for exiles to return home.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus' Decree Allowing Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
This passage echoes Isaiah's imagery of human life's brevity, comparing people to grass and flowers that quickly fade, emphasizing the transient nature of our existence.
Psalm 90:5-6Here, Moses reflects on the swift passage of human life and the fading glory of humanity, much like Isaiah's declaration that all flesh is like grass and its beauty like a wilting flower.
James 1:10-11The New Testament author James directly quotes or alludes to this theme, contrasting the temporary glory of the rich man with the withering of grass and the fading of a flower, highlighting the ultimate vanity of earthly riches and status.
1 Peter 1:24-25Peter explicitly uses Isaiah's words to underscore the enduring nature of God's Word, contrasting it with the fleeting life and glory of humanity, which, like grass and flowers, will eventually wither away.
cambridgeIsaiah 40:6: "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:"
6 . The voice said, Cry ] Render (as before) Hark! one saying, Cry . “Cry” here evidently means “prophesy” as in Isaiah 40:2 , ch. Isaiah 44:7 , Isaiah 61:1 f.; Jeremiah 7:27 . Hence the response, and one said (R.V.) will naturally come from a prophet, the call being from the same quarter as in Isaiah 40:3 . There is no need to suppose that an idea…
clarkeIsaiah 40:6: "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:"
The voice saint Cry "A voice saith Proclaim" - To understand rightly this passage is a matter of importance; for it seems designed to give us the true key to the remaining part of Isaiah's prophecies, the general subject of which is the restoration of the people and Church of God. The prophet opens the subject with great clearness and elegance: he…
The surprising twist here is that the prophet, upon hearing the command to "Cry!", asks, "What shall I cry?" This isn't doubt, but a profound question about the essence of what is truly valuable. His answer, "All flesh is grass," reveals that the message isn't about human achievements or glories, but about their absolute transience compared to God's enduring word.
A voice issues a command to "Cry out!" The prophet, in response, questions what he should proclaim, prompting a profound declaration about the fleeting nature of humanity. This follows God's earlier promise to comfort His people and precedes the revelation of His glory, setting up a contrast between human frailty and God's enduring word.
A voice issues a command to "Cry out!" The prophet, in response, questions what he should proclaim, prompting a profound declaration about the fleeting nature of humanity. This follows God's earlier promise to comfort His people and precedes the revelation of His glory, setting up a contrast between human frailty and God's enduring word.
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c. 520-516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Under leaders like Zerubbabel and Joshua the High Priest, the exiles return and successfully rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, a significant moment of restoration.
"A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field." — The surprising twist here is that the prophet, upon hearing the command to "Cry!", asks, "What shall I cry?" This isn't doubt, but a profound question about the essence of what is truly valuable. H…
