It's easy to read "All flesh is grass" as just a poetic way of saying people are weak and will die. But the context here reveals it's a profound statement about the contrast between human frailty and God's enduring word. The prophet asks "What shall I cry?" and the answer highlights that everything beautiful and strong in humanity is temporary, preparing us to grasp the eternal nature of God's promises.
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)
A voice commands someone to proclaim a message, and the prophet himself asks what he should declare. The response highlights the utter transience of human existence and all its achievements, contrasting it with the enduring nature of God’s word, which will be revealed. This truth serves as a prelude to the grand promises of God's salvation and glory that are about to unfold.
Imagine hearing a voice commanding you to speak a message, but you're unsure what to say. This verse captures that moment, revealing a profound exchange between God and His prophet.
The Divine Command
The verse begins with a command: "A voice says, 'Cry!'" This isn't just any voice; contextually, it's understood as God speaking to His prophet, Isaiah. The word 'Cry' here means more than just shouting; it implies a solemn, public proclamation, akin to prophesying or declaring God's message.
The Prophet's Question
Isaiah's response, "And I said, 'What shall I cry?'", shows his dependence on God's direction. He isn't inventing the message but waiting for divine instruction. This highlights the prophet's role not as an originator of truth, but as a conduit for God's word.
The Contrast
This exchange sets the stage for the central theme: the stark contrast between the temporary nature of humanity and the enduring reality of God's word. The prophet is about to be told that while all human endeavors and glories fade, God's promises are eternal.
We often admire the beauty and strength of the world around us. But what if there's a deeper truth about its inherent transience?
The Nature of Humanity
The answer to Isaiah's question, "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field," delivers a powerful image of human existence. 'Flesh' here represents all of humanity – every person, every nation, every human endeavor.
Ask a follow-up
Grass and Flowers
Grass and flowers are beautiful and vibrant, but their life is short. They are dependent on weather, easily trampled, and wither quickly. This metaphor vividly illustrates that human life, its strength, its achievements, and even its perceived glory, are temporary and fragile.
The Glory That Fades
The phrase "all its beauty" or "all its goodliness" speaks to the sum total of human excellence, accomplishments, and splendor. This can include power, wealth, wisdom, and outward appearance. However, just like a field flower, these things are destined to fade and pass away.
If everything human fades, what is the anchor that truly lasts? This verse, though it focuses on fragility, points toward an enduring reality.
The Implied Contrast
While Isaiah 40:6 explicitly details the transience of 'all flesh,' the immediate context and subsequent verses (which often follow this foundational statement) establish a vital counterpoint: the eternal nature of God's word and promises. The fading grass and flowers serve to highlight the absolute reliability of what God declares.
God's Word Endures
Scholars note that this declaration is a prelude to emphasizing that God's word, unlike human glory, is permanent. It does not wither, fade, or pass away. This unchanging nature means God's promises are sure, His plans are secure, and His faithfulness is absolute.
Foundation for Hope
Understanding that human strength and beauty are temporary compels us to place our trust not in ourselves or in worldly power, but in the unchanging promises of God. This truth offers profound comfort and a stable foundation, especially during times of trial or when facing the inevitabilities of life and loss.
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 is calling the exiles in Babylon to hear God's message of impending restoration. By contrasting the fleeting nature of human life and glory ('grass,' 'flower') with God's eternal word, Isaiah emphasizes that human power and splendor are insignificant compared to God's faithfulness and power to deliver.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many of its people. This marks a significant weakening of the Israelite nations.
639-609 BC
Neo-Babylonian Empire Rises
The Babylonian Empire under rulers like Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar II asserts its dominance, eventually leading to conflicts with Assyria and Egypt.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II conquers Judah and deports a portion of the population, including some of the elite and intellectuals, to Babylon. Daniel is among this group.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of exiles, including the prophet Ezekiel, are taken to Babylon after a rebellion in Jerusalem. The kingdom of Judah is weakened further.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar II utterly destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, signifying the end of the Davidic monarchy and a profound crisis for the Judean people.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Prophecies of Isaiah 40-55 Written
These chapters, often referred to as 'Second Isaiah,' are believed to have been written during the Babylonian exile, offering words of comfort and hope for the exiles.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Captures Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, creating an opportunity for the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
This passage echoes the imagery of grass and flowers fading, highlighting the brevity of human life and its beauty, directly paralleling Isaiah's declaration of all flesh's transience.
1 Peter 1:24-25The Apostle Peter directly quotes and applies this verse, contrasting the fading glory of humanity with the enduring Word of God, thus extending its significance to the eternal truths of the Gospel.
Job 14:1-2Similar to Isaiah, Job laments the fleeting nature of human life, describing humanity as born for but a short time, vulnerable, and quickly passing away like a flower, underscoring the theme of human frailty.
Isaiah 2:22In an earlier chapter, Isaiah himself urges readers to 'cease putting any trust in man,' reinforcing the same idea that human strength and endeavors are ultimately temporary and unreliable compared to God.
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…
It's easy to read "All flesh is grass" as just a poetic way of saying people are weak and will die. But the context here reveals it's a profound statement about the contrast between human frailty and God's enduring word. The prophet asks "What shall I cry?" and the answer highlights that everything beautiful and strong in humanity is temporary, preparing us to grasp the eternal nature of God's promises.
A voice commands someone to proclaim a message, and the prophet himself asks what he should declare. The response highlights the utter transience of human existence and all its achievements, contrasting it with the enduring nature of God’s word, which will be revealed. This truth serves as a prelude to the grand promises of God's salvation and glory that are about to unfold.
A voice commands someone to proclaim a message, and the prophet himself asks what he should declare. The response highlights the utter transience of human existence and all its achievements, contrasting it with the enduring nature of God’s word, which will be revealed. This truth serves as a prelude to the grand promises of God's salvation and glory that are about to unfold.
"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…" — It's easy to read "All flesh is grass" as just a poetic way of saying people are weak and will die. But the context here reveals it's a profound statement about the contrast between human frailty a…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
