Isaiah 40:6 kjv
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:
Isaiah 40:6 nkjv
The voice said, "Cry out!" And he said, "What shall I cry?" "All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
Isaiah 40:6 niv
A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
Isaiah 40:6 esv
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.
Isaiah 40:6 nlt
A voice said, "Shout!"
I asked, "What should I shout?"
"Shout that people are like the grass.
Their beauty fades as quickly
as the flowers in a field.
Isaiah 40 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 40:7 | The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. | Isa 40:6 (continuation) |
| Ps 37:2 | For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green plant. | Ps 37:2 (Similar imagery) |
| Ps 90:5-6 | You sweep them away like a flood; they are like a dream, like grass in the morning that springs up and springs up, but in the evening it is cut down and withered. | Ps 90:5-6 (Mortality) |
| Ps 103:15-16 | As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field, for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. | Ps 103:15-16 (Frail life) |
| Job 14:1-2 | "Man, born of woman, is a few days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and does not continue. | Job 14:1-2 (Ephemeral nature) |
| James 1:10-11 | and the rich in his humility, because he will pass away like the wild flower. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. | Jas 1:10-11 (Rich and frail) |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | For "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the field. The grass withers, and the flower falls, | 1 Pet 1:24 (Direct echo) |
| Isa 37:32 | "For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this." | Isa 37:32 (God's action) |
| Jer 17:5-6 | Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land where no one lives. | Jer 17:5-6 (Trust in man) |
| Ps 60:11 | Do not give us help in vain through man. With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our enemies. | Ps 60:11 (Contrast man/God) |
| Ps 146:3 | Do not put your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. | Ps 146:3 (No trust in man) |
| Gal 2:16 | yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. | Gal 2:16 (Justification) |
| Rom 3:20 | For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. | Rom 3:20 (Law and sin) |
| 1 Cor 1:29 | so that no flesh might boast in the presence of God. | 1 Cor 1:29 (No flesh boast) |
| 1 Cor 15:44 | It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. | 1 Cor 15:44 (Natural/Spiritual) |
| John 3:6 | That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. | John 3:6 (Flesh vs. Spirit) |
| Rom 7:18 | For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. | Rom 7:18 (Sinful flesh) |
| Heb 12:2 | looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. | Heb 12:2 (Faith focus) |
| 1 John 2:17 | And the world is passing away, and the desire of it, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. | 1 John 2:17 (World passing) |
| Matt 24:35 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. | Matt 24:35 (Words endure) |
| Ps 119:89 | forever, O LORD, your word is firmly set in the heavens. | Ps 119:89 (Word endures) |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 6 Meaning
"All flesh is grass, and all its loyalty is like the flower of the field." This verse speaks to the inherent frailty and transience of humanity. It emphasizes that all people, with their strengths and loyalties, are temporary like vegetation that wilts and fades. The word for "loyalty" also carries meanings of kindness, steadfastness, and reliability, highlighting that even the best human endeavors and character traits are subject to the passage of time and the limitations of mortality.
Isaiah 40 6 Context
Chapter 40 of Isaiah is a powerful passage of comfort and assurance for the exiled people of Israel. It begins by proclaiming the end of their punishment and the coming of a new era of divine favor. The prophet is commanded to speak words of comfort to Jerusalem, announcing that her iniquity is pardoned and that a highway for the LORD is to be prepared in the wilderness. This divine highway symbolizes God's powerful intervention and deliverance. Following this announcement of God's imminent coming to restore and redeem, Isaiah is compelled to emphasize the contrast between God's eternal, unchanging nature and the temporal, perishable nature of humanity.
Isaiah 40 6 Word Analysis
כָּל־ (kol-): All; every; whole.
- Significance: Emphasizes the universality of the statement. It leaves no exception to the assertion of human transience.
בָּשָׂר (basar): Flesh; human being; living creature.
- Significance: Refers to the entirety of human existence, physical and mortal. It underscores our natural limitations and vulnerability to decay. It’s not just the physical body but the whole person in their earthly state.
חֶסֶד (ḥesed): Loyalty; steadfast love; kindness; mercy; covenant loyalty.
- The Septuagint (LXX) translates this as πᾶσα δόξα (pasa doxa), meaning "all glory" or "all honor." This highlights the interpretation that human pride and achievements are as fleeting as grass. The Hebrew word ḥesed has a rich theological meaning, often referring to God's enduring covenant faithfulness. Applying it to humans signifies their outward display of loyalty or reputation, which is ultimately impermanent.
כִּצְמַח (kitsmakh): Like the sprouting; as the growing.
- Significance: Connects the idea of loyalty/glory to a natural process of growth, which implies a life cycle, including decay.
הַשָּׂדֶה (haśśadeh): The field.
- Significance: The natural, uncultivated environment where growth and fading occur. It’s a place of organic, predictable life cycles.
And (conjunction connecting the two clauses): The statement that "all flesh is grass" leads into the complementary thought about its "loyalty" or "glory."
Word Group Analysis:
- "All flesh is grass": This powerful metaphor establishes the fundamental limitation of humanity as mortal and prone to withering. It's a profound statement on the contrast between the eternal Creator and His creation.
- "and all its loyalty is like the flower of the field": This extends the metaphor to human character and commitment. Even the best qualities of humans—their faithfulness, devotion, or renown—are transient and will ultimately fade without divine sustaining power. The "flower of the field" is beautiful and noticeable, but exceptionally temporary.
Isaiah 40 6 Bonus Section
This verse’s contrast between mortal humanity and the eternal God is a recurring theme in Scripture. The Septuagint's translation of ḥesed as "glory" is significant. It implies that human achievements, renown, and boasts are as fleeting as the seasons. The comparison is not inherently negative, acknowledging the beauty of the flower, but it highlights the temporary aspect. It’s a call to recognize our limitations and depend wholly on God, whose "Word stands forever" (Isa 40:8) and whose faithfulness endures through all generations. The immediate next verse (40:7) clarifies this with: "The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass." This further emphasizes that divine action, even a divine "breath," can reveal and hasten human fragility.
Isaiah 40 6 Commentary
Isaiah 40:6 serves as a crucial theological statement in a chapter promising immense comfort. It debunks any reliance on human strength or permanence. By comparing humanity to grass and its best qualities to the flower of the field, the prophet powerfully illustrates our mortality and the ephemeral nature of all earthly glory, loyalty, and strength. This understanding is vital for appreciating God’s incomparable, everlasting power and faithfulness, which are the true basis for Israel’s hope. It underscores the need to anchor our trust not in what is temporal and fragile, but in the eternal Word of God, which alone endures. This truth shifts the focus from human capabilities to divine reliability, providing a solid foundation for faith amidst exilic despair.