What does the phrase "all flesh is grass" mean in this passage?

The phrase "all flesh is grass" is a picture of how short and fragile human life is. Grass grows up quickly, looks green for a time, then dries out and disappears. In the same way, people are weak, they die, and everything they boast in fades. This includes human strength, beauty, success, and even religious pride. God is reminding us not to trust in ourselves or in other people for lasting hope, because we are all like grass that withers under His breath.

Why does the grass wither and the flower fade when the Spirit of the LORD blows on it?

The picture of the Spirit of the LORD blowing on grass and flowers shows that our life and strength depend fully on God. When He blows on them, they wither, which means that when God removes His support, human strength and glory disappear. This can point to death, when God takes away our breath, and also to how God exposes the emptiness of human pride and false righteousness. It reminds us that everything that looks strong without God can vanish in a moment.

What is the meaning of "the word of our God shall stand for ever"?

"The word of our God shall stand for ever" means that what God says cannot be broken or worn out. People come and go, plans change, and even whole nations rise and fall, but God’s promises do not expire. His message of comfort, salvation, and mercy will be fulfilled in His time. When everything else feels shaky and uncertain, this verse says we can build our hopes on what God has spoken, because His word remains when all human strength has failed.

Who is told to cry out, and what are they supposed to cry?

A voice from God says, "Cry," which is a command to proclaim His message out loud. The prophet (and, by extension, anyone sent to speak for God) asks, "What shall I cry?" The answer is not a clever idea of his own, but God’s message: that all flesh is grass, people are like flowers that fade, and that only God’s word lasts. So the one who cries is God’s messenger, called to speak clearly about human frailty and God’s sure promise.

How does this passage comfort people who feel weak and short‑lived?

At first, the passage can feel harsh, because it tells us we are like grass and flowers that soon fade. But this truth is meant to lead to comfort. It shows that we were never meant to lean on our own strength or on other people for lasting security. When we accept that we are weak, we are ready to rest on something stronger than us: God’s unchanging word. Our lives may be brief, but His promise of mercy and salvation does not fade, even when we do.

What does this passage teach about pride and self‑reliance?

These verses quietly cut down human pride. They say that all the "goodliness" or beauty of people is like a field flower that soon falls. This includes not just outward looks or success, but also any sense that we can stand right before God by our own goodness. God’s Spirit shows that our strength and righteousness are not solid. This humbles us, so that we stop boasting in ourselves, and start seeking God’s grace and trusting in His promise instead of our own works.

How does the contrast between grass and God’s word apply to daily life?

Day to day, we are tempted to lean on things that look strong now: health, money, work, relationships, or our own wisdom. This passage reminds us that all these things are like grass and flowers, good but passing. They can change suddenly. God’s word, however, does not change. In practice, this means we should measure life by what God has said, cling to His promises in trouble, and let His truth guide us more than shifting feelings, news, or the opinions of others.

What was happening with God’s people when this message was given?

These words were first given when God’s people were facing or heading toward a time of great trouble and exile. They would see their land, leaders, and strength broken, and might feel like God’s promises had failed. Into that setting, God sends a word of comfort and calls a voice to cry out. He reminds them that human power, including their enemies’ power and their own, is like grass. His promise to save and restore them, however, will stand firm and be fulfilled.

Isa.40.6

Isaiah 40:6

King James Version (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:

Chapter:

Context:

The Enduring Word

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 grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Cross References

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