Isaiah 40:7 (WEB)

Passage

The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass.

Nearby Context

Isaiah 40:5 Yahweh’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.”

Isaiah 40:6 The voice of one saying, “Cry!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field.

Isaiah 40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:9 You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up. Don’t be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!”

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "grass", "withers", "flower", "fades", "yahweh", "breath", "blows", and "surely". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "grass" and "withers", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "The voice of one saying Cry One..." into verse 8's "The grass withers the flower fades but...", so "grass" and "withers" belong inside that flow. In Isaiah context, the local focus is the Holy One of Israel, judgment and restoration, the servant of the LORD, and Zion's hope.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "grass" and "withers" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.