Isaiah 40:8

40:7 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.

KJV

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The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”

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

The grass wither, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. ¶

40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! O Zion: or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion O Jerusalem: or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem

What does Isaiah 40:8 mean?

Isaiah 40:8 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include חָצִיר (châtsîyr), יָבֵשׁ (yâbêsh), צִיץ (tsîyts). It connects to 8 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

The

grassחָצִירchâtsîyr/khaw-tseer'/H2682grass; also a leek (collectively)

withereth,יָבֵשׁyâbêsh/yaw-bashe'/H3001to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)

the

flowerצִיץtsîyts/tseets/H6731properly, glistening, i.e. a burnished plate; also a flower (as bright-colored); a wing (as gleaming in the air)

fadeth:נָבֵלnâbêl/naw-bale'/H5034to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively, to despise, disgrace

but

the

wordדָּבָרdâbâr/daw-baw'/H1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

our

Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

shall

standקוּםqûwm/koom/H6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

for

ever.עוֹלָםʻôwlâm/o-lawm'/H5769properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always

Commentary on Isaiah 40:8

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 40:8–9

i> In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. These two verses show the power of kings, which is every where great, but was especially so in those eastern countries, where they were absolute and arbitrary. Whom they would they slew and whom they would they kept alive. Their will was a law. We have reason to bless God for the happy constitution of the government we live under, which maintains the prerogative of the prince without any injury to the liberty of the subject. But here it is intimated, 1. How formidable the wrath of a king is: It is as messengers of death; the wrath of Ahasuerus was so to Haman. An angry word from an incensed prince has been to many a messenger of death, and has struck so great a terror upon some as if a sentence of death had been pronounced upon them. He must be a very wise man that knows how to pacify the wrath of a king with a word fitly spoken, as Jonathan once pacified his father's rage against David, 1 Sam. xix. 6 . A prudent subject may sometimes suggest that to an angry prince which will cool his resentments. 2. How valuable and desirable the king's favour is to those that have incurred his displeasure; it is life from the dead if the king be reconciled to them. To others it is as a cloud of the latter rain, very refreshing to the ground. Solomon put his subjects in mind of this, that they might not do any thing to incur his wrath, but be careful to recommend themselves to his favour. We ought by it to be put in mind how much we are concerned to escape the wrath and obtain the favour of the King of kings. His frowns are worse than death, and his favour is better than life; and therefore those are fools who to escape the wrath, and obtain the favour, of an earthly prince, will throw themselves out of God's favour, and make themselves obnoxious to his wrath. Pride and Humility. 16

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Job 28:13

Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. defence: Heb. shadow

Isaiah 3:15

What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Isaiah 8:10

Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

Isaiah 8:11

For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, with: Heb. in strength of hand

Isaiah 8:19

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

Matthew 16:26

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 12:21

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

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Man Quotations and Allusions

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 40:8.

Isaiah 40:7

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

Joshua 24:26

And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.

Judges 3:20

And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. a summer: Heb. a parlour of cooling

Isaiah 15:6

For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing. desolate: Heb. desolations

Isaiah 28:1

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! overcome: Heb. broken

Isaiah 40:6

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:

Job 8:12

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

Joshua 22:24

And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel? In time: Heb. To morrow

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 40:8 say?

Isaiah 40:8 (King James Version) reads: "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

Is Isaiah 40:8 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 40:8 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 40:8, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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