Isaiah 40:7 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

The grass dries up and the flower wilts when the breath of the LORD blows on it. Yes, people are just like grass.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse is saying that human life is fragile and temporary, like grass that quickly withers when God's breath touches it.

📚 Historical Context

Isaiah 40 is part of a prophetic message from the prophet Isaiah, likely delivered during the time of Israel's exile in Babylon in the 6th century BC, where God offers comfort and reassurance to His people amidst their suffering and uncertainty. The verse uses everyday imagery of grass and flowers withering in the harsh Middle Eastern climate to symbolize the fleeting nature of human life and accomplishments. This highlights God's supreme power, as His breath alone can cause such withering, reminding the exiled Israelites of their dependence on Him.

Explore Similar Verses

Isaiah 2:22

Stop putting your trust in people, whose breath is only in their nose: what makes them worth depending on?

Psalms 103:15

As for people, their lives are like grass: like a wildflower in the field, that's how they bloom and grow.

1 Peter 1:24

Look, every person is like grass, and all our achievements and status are like wildflowers in a field. The grass dries up, and those beautiful flowers? They fall off and blow away.

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