Isaiah 40:8 kjv
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Isaiah 40:8 nkjv
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 40:8 niv
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."
Isaiah 40:8 esv
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8 nlt
The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 40 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. | God's word is eternal |
| Psalm 119:89 | Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly established in the heavens. | Permanence of God's Word |
| Psalm 119:160 | The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. | Truthfulness of God's Word |
| 1 Peter 1:24-25 | For, “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” | Echoes the imagery and theme |
| Matthew 24:35 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. | Jesus affirms the enduring nature of His words |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... | The power and life in God's Word |
| Jeremiah 1:12 | Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” | God's commitment to His Word |
| Psalm 89:34 | ...I will not violate my covenant or alter the spoken word of my lips. | God's faithfulness to His promises |
| John 10:35 | ...and the Scripture cannot be broken... | The unbreakable nature of Scripture |
| Isaiah 55:11 | ...so shall my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend... | The effectiveness of God's Word |
| 2 Timothy 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, | The divine inspiration and utility of Scripture |
| Romans 15:4 | For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. | Purpose and encouragement from Scripture |
| 1 John 2:17 | And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. | Contrast between world and God's will |
| Isaiah 40:31 | but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. | Result of trust in the Lord's enduring promises |
| Matthew 5:18 | For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. | Jesus on the permanence of the Law |
| Acts 17:11 | Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. | Importance of testing against Scripture |
| Romans 3:3-4 | What then? If some were unfaithful, will their faithfulness nullify the faith of God? By no means! Let God be true, though every man be a liar... | God's faithfulness even amidst human failure |
| 1 Corinthians 13:8 | Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. | Contrasting temporary gifts with eternal love/word |
| John 6:63 | It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. | The spiritual nature of Christ's words |
| 1 Peter 1:25 | ...but the word of the Lord remains forever. As is the word of the gospel that was preached to you. | Connection to the Gospel |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 8 Meaning
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. This verse emphasizes the eternal and unchanging nature of God's word, in contrast to the transience and decay of the physical world. It assures the people of God's steadfast faithfulness and the enduring power of His promises and commands.
Isaiah 40 8 Context
Isaiah 40 serves as a powerful oracle of comfort and hope for the exiled Israelites. After a period of judgment for their sins, God announces through Isaiah that His people will soon be restored and their Babylonian captivity brought to an end. The chapter contrasts the weakness and impermanence of the Gentile nations and their idols with the everlasting strength and sovereignty of the one true God. Verse 8, placed after imagery of wilting grass and fading flowers, highlights the eternal nature of God's promise and His word, assuring His people that their hope is grounded in something far more stable than their present circumstances or the passing glory of this world.
Isaiah 40 8 Word Analysis
- "grass": Hebrew: eseb (עֶשֶׂב). Refers to green shoots, grass, herbs; that which sprouts from the earth. Represents the ephemeral, the natural, and the temporary aspects of creation.
- "withers": Hebrew: yâbêsh (יָבֵשׁ). To be dry, parched, withered. Describes the natural decay and fading that affects all living, plant-based things.
- "flower": Hebrew: përäḥ (פֶּרַח). A bloom, blossom, or flower. Represents the beauty and vibrancy of life, yet also its fragility and short duration.
- "fades": Hebrew: nâphal (נָפַל). To fall, fall off, fade. Suggests a loss of color, strength, and substance, a perishing or decay.
- "but": Hebrew: kî (כִּי). Conjunction indicating contrast or cause. Here, it emphatically introduces the opposing and enduring reality.
- "the word": Hebrew: dâvâr (דָּבָר). Refers to word, speech, thing, matter, promise, commandment. Encompasses God's declarations, His promises, His commands, and His divine revelation.
- "of our God": Hebrew: ĕlōhêynû (אֱלֹהֵינוּ). The personal and covenantal God of Israel.
- "stands": Hebrew: âqâm (קָיַם). To stand, stand firm, remain, endure, be established, be upheld, endure. Conveys steadfastness, permanence, and guaranteed fulfillment.
- "forever": Hebrew: lĕ‘ôlām (לְעוֹלָם). For perpetuity, everlasting, eternal. Signifies unending duration.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "grass withers, flower fades": This pairing uses common natural imagery to illustrate the inevitable decay and transience of all physical existence, human power, and earthly glory. It's a universal truth about mortality and the limits of the created world.
- "the word of our God": This phrase signifies God's authoritative communication and promises. It isn't just any word, but the utterance from the Sovereign Lord who is the source of all truth and power.
- "stands forever": This is the crucial contrast. While the natural world is subject to decay and change, God's word possesses inherent stability and permanence. It is guaranteed, it will endure, and it will ultimately triumph. This suggests reliability and ultimate accomplishment.
Isaiah 40 8 Bonus Section
The contrast between the transient and the eternal is a recurring theme in Scripture. This verse serves as a foundation for understanding how God's plan unfolds and how His people are meant to place their trust. The phrase "word of our God" also implies God's active engagement with creation and history; He doesn't just speak, but His speaking has a permanent, world-shaping effect. Scholars often point to the theological weight of "dâvâr" as not merely an utterance but a powerful creative force, mirroring Genesis 1. The immediate context of Isaiah 40, focusing on God's power over idols and His role as Creator and Redeemer, reinforces this idea. God's word is contrasted with the powerless pronouncements of false gods. Therefore, it assures God's people that the messages of judgment and hope proclaimed by Isaiah are as sure as God's eternal existence.
Isaiah 40 8 Commentary
Isaiah 40:8 provides a profound theological statement on the enduring nature of God's communication, juxtaposed with the fleeting reality of the natural world. In a context of Babylonian exile, where outward signs of power and splendor were diminishing for Israel, the prophet offers an unshakeable anchor: God's word. This word encompasses His promises of restoration, His covenant faithfulness, and His divine truth. Unlike the perishable elements of creation, which are subject to inevitable decay and eventual disappearance, God's pronouncements are firm, immutable, and eternally effective. This assurance is vital, meaning that the hope for the future rests not on temporary circumstances but on the steadfast character and promises of God Himself. The imagery is so powerful that the Apostle Peter directly echoes it, applying it to the enduring nature of the Gospel message itself (1 Peter 1:24-25). For believers, this verse remains a powerful reminder of the reliability of Scripture and the certainty of God's promises, even when earthly circumstances seem dire or uncertain.