Isaiah 40:6-7
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 grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The prophet asks "What shall I cry?" not because he doesn't know what to say, but because he's highlighting the futility of relying on human strength and beauty in the face of God's power. The grass and flowers represent all of human glory, accomplishments, and even supposed goodness – all destined to fade, making it clear that only God's word and power truly endure.
A voice commands the prophet to proclaim a message, prompting the prophet to ask what he should announce. The response reveals that all human beings and their perceived greatness are as fleeting and fragile as grass and field flowers, a stark contrast to God's eternal word. This declaration serves to underscore the ultimate power and permanence of God's promises, especially in the context of Israel's impending deliverance and return from exile.
When God commands you to speak, but doesn't give you the exact words, what's your first reaction? It's likely a question born of humility and a desire for divine clarity.
The verse opens with a powerful exchange: "A voice says, 'Cry!' And I said, 'What shall I cry?'" This isn't just a literary device; it's the prophet wrestling with an immense commission.
A Divine Mandate and Human Inquiry
This exchange sets the stage for understanding the profound truth that follows: the contrast between temporary human existence and the enduring nature of God's promises.
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Imagine the most vibrant, stunning field of flowers. Now imagine it withering away in a single day. That's the picture Isaiah paints of us.
The prophet's answer, "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field," is a stark declaration of human mortality and the ephemeral nature of all earthly things.
The Metaphor of Fleeting Beauty
This truth isn't meant to depress us, but to recalibrate our perspective. It highlights that true permanence and reliability are found not in ourselves or any human endeavor, but in God alone.
While everything human fades, there's one thing that stands firm, unwavering through the ages. What is it?
The profound contrast presented in Isaiah 40:6-8 is between the fleeting nature of humanity and the eternal, unshakeable reality of God's Word.
The Anchor in the Storm
This truth is foundational for faith. It means our hope is not built on shifting sands of human performance or circumstance, but on the solid rock of God's promises and character. This divine Word is the source of comfort, deliverance, and eternal salvation.
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.
The prophet Isaiah delivers this message during the exilic and post-exilic period, a time when the people of God had experienced the devastating consequences of their own sin and the power of empires. The stark contrast between the ephemeral nature of human endeavors and the eternal faithfulness of God's word was meant to encourage hope and steadfast trust in God's ultimate redemptive plan, even amidst overwhelming circumstances.
c. 740 BC
Prophecy of Isaiah
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah during a period of political instability and foreign threats, particularly from Assyria.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many Israelites. This event would have loomed large in the consciousness of Judah.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. Though the city is miraculously spared, the devastation is widespread, highlighting human vulnerability.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah, and a portion of the population, including nobles and skilled workers (like Daniel), is deported to Babylon.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This marks the low point of Israel's national and religious life.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great of Persia begins his conquests, eventually leading to the fall of the Babylonian Empire. This shift in power creates a new context for the exiles.
539 BC— this verse
Cyrus the Great Captures Babylon
Cyrus conquers Babylon, paving the way for the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem as decreed by his Edict of Restoration.
This passage paints a similar picture of human life's brevity and fragility, comparing it to grass and flowers that quickly fade, directly echoing the sentiment of Isaiah 40:6.
Psalm 103:15-16It reiterates the theme of human transience, describing people's days as like grass and their flourishing as a field flower, highlighting the stark contrast between fleeting human existence and enduring divine power.
James 1:10-11This New Testament passage draws a parallel between the fading glory of human riches and the withering of a flower, underscoring the temporary nature of worldly possessions and human endeavors, much like 'all flesh'.
1 Peter 1:24-25Peter directly quotes Isaiah's imagery of flesh being like grass and its glory like a flower, powerfully contrasting it with the eternal, unchangeable Word of God that is preached through the Gospel.
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 prophet asks "What shall I cry?" not because he doesn't know what to say, but because he's highlighting the futility of relying on human strength and beauty in the face of God's power. The grass and flowers represent all of human glory, accomplishments, and even supposed goodness – all destined to fade, making it clear that only God's word and power truly endure.
A voice commands the prophet to proclaim a message, prompting the prophet to ask what he should announce. The response reveals that all human beings and their perceived greatness are as fleeting and fragile as grass and field flowers, a stark contrast to God's eternal word. This declaration serves to underscore the ultimate power and permanence of God's promises, especially in the context of Israel's impending deliverance and return from exile.
A voice commands the prophet to proclaim a message, prompting the prophet to ask what he should announce. The response reveals that all human beings and their perceived greatness are as fleeting and fragile as grass and field flowers, a stark contrast to God's eternal word. This declaration serves to underscore the ultimate power and permanence of God's promises, especially in the context of Israel's impending deliverance and return from exile.
"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 grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; s…" — The prophet asks "What shall I cry?" not because he doesn't know what to say, but because he's highlighting the futility of relying on human strength and beauty in the face of God's power. The gras…
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