Isaiah 40:7 kjv
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Isaiah 40:7 nkjv
The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.
Isaiah 40:7 niv
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
Isaiah 40:7 esv
The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.
Isaiah 40:7 nlt
The grass withers and the flowers fade
beneath the breath of the LORD.
And so it is with people.
Isaiah 40 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 40:6 | "A voice says, 'Cry!' And I said, 'What shall I cry?' All flesh is grass..." | Establishes the metaphor of flesh/humanity as grass |
| Isa 40:8 | "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." | Direct contrast: human transience vs. God's eternal word |
| Ps 90:5-6 | "You sweep them away as with a flood... they are like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers." | Humanity's life cycle is short, like grass |
| Ps 103:15-16 | "As for man, his days are like grass... a wind blows over it, and it is gone..." | Human life as grass, swept away by wind/God's will |
| 1 Pet 1:24-25 | "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers... but the word of the Lord remains forever." | New Testament affirmation of Isa 40:6-8 |
| Jas 1:10-11 | "But the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat..." | Wealth/status is fleeting, like a fading flower |
| Job 14:1-2 | "Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers..." | Humanity's short and difficult life, fading quickly |
| Ps 39:4-5 | "Oh, let me know my end... You have made my days a few handbreadths..." | Reminder of the brevity of human life |
| Ecc 1:4 | "A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever." | Transience of human generations |
| Gen 6:3 | "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh..." | God limits human lifespan due to their nature |
| Ps 33:6 | "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host." | God's creative and powerful breath |
| Isa 30:28 | "...and the breath of the LORD, like an overflowing torrent, will reach clear to the neck." | God's breath as an instrument of judgment |
| Ps 1:3-4 | "...like a tree planted by streams... not so the wicked, but they are like chaff that the wind drives away." | Contrast of righteous enduring vs. wicked perishing |
| Ps 90:11 | "Who considers the power of your anger..." | The fearsome power behind God's breath/anger |
| Ps 102:11 | "My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass." | Personal experience of rapid decay/shortness of life |
| Zech 1:5 | "Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?" | rhetorical question highlighting universal mortality |
| Rom 1:21-23 | "Though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks... exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man..." | Idolatry of mortal man rather than immortal God |
| 1 Cor 7:31 | "For the present form of this world is passing away." | All things in this world are transient |
| Heb 1:10-12 | "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth... They will perish, but you remain..." | God's permanence vs. creation's transience |
| 2 Cor 4:18 | "For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." | Visible creation is temporary, eternal reality persists |
| Matt 6:30 | "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?" | Used in context of not worrying about earthly needs |
| Num 27:16 | "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation..." | God is sovereign over all living things/spirits |
| Ps 144:4 | "Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." | Concise description of human impermanence |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 7 Meaning
Isaiah 40:7 powerfully declares the fleeting and ephemeral nature of humanity compared to the enduring and sovereign will of God. It illustrates that all human life, strength, and beauty are as fragile and transient as grass and flowers, which swiftly wither and fade under the irresistible force of God's breath, emphasizing a profound humbling of man before the eternal Creator.
Isaiah 40 7 Context
Isaiah chapter 40 marks a significant shift in the book, initiating what is often called the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-55). Following chapters filled with judgment against Israel and other nations, this chapter begins with a message of hope and restoration for a people in exile and despair. God commands His prophets to "Comfort, comfort my people" (Isa 40:1), promising an end to their period of punishment. This verse (Isa 40:7) comes within a larger rhetorical argument contrasting the ephemeral nature of humanity with the eternal power and word of God. It prepares the audience for the coming of the LORD by demonstrating the stark reality of human limitations and mortality. The historical context is generally understood to be during or shortly after the Babylonian exile, a time when Israel felt abandoned and questioned God's power. Isaiah challenges this despair by reaffirming God's absolute sovereignty and capacity to save, contrasting His greatness with the insignificance of even the mightiest human empires or individuals. The rapid wilting of grass and flowers in the arid Middle Eastern climate would have been a vivid, tangible metaphor for the original audience, conveying fragility and rapid decay without extended explanation.
Isaiah 40 7 Word analysis
- The grass (חָצִיר - chatsir): Refers to a wild herb or green vegetation. In the Near East, grass quickly springs up after rain but just as quickly withers under the sun. It's a universal symbol of transience and the fragility of life.
- withers (יָבֵשׁ - yabesh): Means to dry up, become dry, or decay. It signifies a natural, irreversible process of decline and loss of life-giving moisture.
- the flower (צִיץ - tzitz): Represents the bloom or blossom of the plant, often noted for its beauty, vivid color, and delicacy. Its existence is inherently brief and leads to fading.
- fades (נָבֵל - navel): Implies wilting, drooping, or falling off. It indicates a loss of vibrancy, strength, and beauty, moving towards decay.
- when the breath (רוּחַ - ruach): This Hebrew term is multifaceted, meaning "wind," "spirit," or "breath." Here, in connection with the LORD and its effect, it most strongly conveys a powerful, irresistible force – often akin to a scorching wind, symbolizing God's judgment, decree, or sovereign will. It is a divine and active agent.
- of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His self-existence, eternal nature, and supreme authority as the one true God who acts in history. It underscores that this breath comes from the ultimate divine power.
- blows on it (נָשְׁבָה בּוֹ - nashbah bo): An active verb indicating a direct and forceful application of the breath, leading to the immediate and inevitable consequence of withering and fading.
- surely (אָכֵן - aken): An emphatic particle meaning "indeed," "truly," or "verily." It highlights the certainty and undeniable truth of the statement that follows, removing any doubt.
- the people (הָעָם - ha'am): Refers to humanity in general, or the specific people of Israel, extending the metaphor to all of humankind. It collectivizes the individual experiences of the grass and flower.
- are grass: A direct and explicit application of the metaphor, confirming that human beings, with all their attributes and aspirations, share the same temporary and fragile existence as vegetation.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "The grass withers, the flower fades": This pair of statements employs a common parallelism in Hebrew poetry. It vividly illustrates the universal experience of organic life: brief flourishing followed by inevitable decline. "Grass" represents common, utilitarian life, while "flower" highlights beauty and ornamentation, showing that neither humble nor beautiful life is exempt from transience.
- "when the breath of the LORD blows on it": This phrase introduces the divine agent and the cause of the transience. The "breath of the LORD" is not just a gentle breeze but a potent, unassailable force (as ruach can also mean a destructive wind). It signifies God's sovereign decree and power that swiftly brings an end to all temporary existence, making humanity's fragility subservient to His will.
- "surely the people are grass": This is the concluding declaration, serving as the theological punchline of the verse. The emphatic "surely" leaves no room for debate, drawing a direct and undeniable equivalence between humanity ("the people," meaning all humanity) and the fleeting vegetation. It's a stark reminder of human mortality and dependence on God, establishing a crucial boundary to human pride and self-sufficiency.
Isaiah 40 7 Bonus section
The context of Isaiah 40:7 sets up a rhetorical pattern seen throughout the Book of Comfort:
- Assertion of human frailty: Verses 6-7 establish humanity as grass.
- Contrast with divine permanence: Verse 8 introduces the enduring Word of God.
- Revelation of God's character and power: The subsequent verses (e.g., God as Shepherd, God as Creator) build upon this foundation.
This verse specifically uses the image of ruach (breath/wind/Spirit) as the active agent. This connects to broader biblical themes where ruach signifies divine power (e.g., the Spirit moving over the waters in Gen 1:2, God's breath giving life in Gen 2:7, or the Spirit empowering individuals). Here, the same divine power that gives life is shown to also effect its transient nature and end. It highlights God's absolute sovereignty over both creation and destiny.
Isaiah 40 7 Commentary
Isaiah 40:7 is a profound declaration of human impermanence and a stark contrast between humanity and God. The dual imagery of "grass" and "flower" encompasses all aspects of human existence—from the mundane to the beautiful, the powerful to the fragile—asserting that all are equally subject to decay. This transient nature is not due to random chance but to the direct, purposeful act of God, whose "breath" (ruach) is a potent, irresistible force. This divine "breath" is not merely a metaphor for time or natural processes, but represents God's active will, capable of both creation and judgment, bringing swift cessation to all that is mortal. The emphatic conclusion, "surely the people are grass," universalizes the lesson, humbling humanity by placing it squarely in the category of fleeting organic matter. The verse powerfully dismantles any human pride or self-reliance, paving the way for the ultimate comfort: though humanity fades, "the word of our God will stand forever" (Isa 40:8), offering an enduring hope beyond the limitations of mortal existence.