Isaiah 40:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The prophet is commanded to preach, and begins by declaring the frailty and impermanence of all human life and beauty.
The Context of Isaiah 40:6
The prophet is commissioned to preach; he questions what message to proclaim, and God instructs him to begin with the truth of human frailty.
What Does Isaiah 40:6 Mean?
A new voice appears. The prophet is commanded to cry out, to proclaim. His response is honest: 'What shall I cry?' What message is adequate to this moment? The answer comes with stark realism. All flesh is grass. Not some flesh; all. Not metaphorically; literally in its frailty. Every human being, for all our pride and power, is as temporary as grass, as fleeting as a wildflower. The 'goodliness' (comeliness, beauty, magnificence) of human strength and achievement is no more lasting than the flower of the field, which blooms briefly and withers. This is not harsh; it is liberating. Once we accept this truth, we are free.
The prophet begins his witness with honesty about the human condition. This is the soil in which the gospel grows. We cannot hear the word about God's eternal glory until we have grasped the truth of our own impermanence. The grass metaphor prepares the way for the contrast in verse 8: the grass withers, but God's word stands forever.
Isaiah 40:6 in the Original Language
bassar (Hebrew), 'flesh' -- human nature in its weakness, dependence, and mortality
How to Apply Isaiah 40:6 Today
To preach the gospel truly is to begin here: we are grass, temporary, fleeting. Only in this humility can we hear what lasts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 40:6
What does Isaiah 40:6 mean?
The prophet is commanded to preach, and begins by declaring the frailty and impermanence of all human life and beauty.
What is the context of Isaiah 40:6?
The prophet is commissioned to preach; he questions what message to proclaim, and God instructs him to begin with the truth of human frailty.
How can I apply Isaiah 40:6 today?
To preach the gospel truly is to begin here: we are grass, temporary, fleeting. Only in this humility can we hear what lasts.