Isaiah 40:6-8·~1 min
The Enduring Word
When told to proclaim, the prophet asks what message can possibly hold, and the answer is stark: humanity in all its vitality and splendor is as temporary as grass and wildflowers. The breath that withers human life highlights the contrast, because while flesh fades quickly, the word of Israel's God stands unchanged forever.
A6 voice says, “Cry out!” 7The grass withers and the flowers fall 8The grass withers and the flowers fall,
Section summaryThe middle section sets human frailty against divine permanence. A voice commands the prophet to cry out that all flesh is like grass and all its beauty like the flower of the field, withering under the breath of the LORD, but the word of God endures forever.
Role in the chapterThis section explains why hope cannot rest on human strength: only God's word survives the passing of all flesh.