Isaiah 40:6–9
The NET BibleOther versions
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- CSB Christian Standard Bible
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- ESV English Standard Version
- GW GOD’S WORD Translation
- GNB Good News Translation
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- KJV 1900 King James Version
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- LEB The Lexham English Bible
- MSG The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language
- NASB95 New American Standard Bible (1995)
- NCV New Century Version
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- RSVCE The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition
- YLT Young’s Literal Translation
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40:6A voice says, “Cry out!”
Another asks,11 “What should I cry out?”
The first voice responds:12 “All people are like grass,13
and all their promises14 are like the flowers in the field.
40:7The grass dries up,
the flowers wither,
when the wind sent by the Lord15 blows on them.
Surely humanity16 is like grass.
40:8The grass dries up,
the flowers wither,
but the decree of our God is forever reliable.”17
40:9Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion!
Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem!18
Shout, don’t be afraid!
Say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
Footnotes
- 11 Heb “and he says.” Apparently a second “voice” responds to the command of the first “voice.”
- 12 The words “the first voice responds” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The first voice tells the second one what to declare.
- 13 Heb “all flesh is grass.” The point of the metaphor is explained in v. 7.
- 14 Heb “and all his loyalty.” The antecedent of the third masculine suffix is בָּשָׂר (basar, “flesh”), which refers collectively to mankind. The , apparently understanding the antecedent as “grass,” reads “glory,” but חֶסֶד (khesed) rarely, if ever, has this nuance. The normal meaning of חֶסֶד (“faithfulness, loyalty, devotion”) fits very well in the argument. Human beings and their faithfulness (verbal expressions of faithfulness are specifically in view; cf. “constancy”) are short-lived and unreliable, in stark contrast to the decrees and promises of the eternal God.
- 15 The Hebrew text has רוּחַ יְהוָה (ruakh yehvah), which in this context probably does not refer to the Lord’s personal Spirit. The phrase is better translated “the breath of the Lord,” or “the wind of [i.e., sent by] the Lord.” The Lord’s sovereign control over nature, including the hot desert winds that dry up vegetation, is in view here (cf. Ps 147:18; Isa 59:19).
- 16 Heb “the people” (so , , , , , ).
- 17 Heb “but the word of our God stands forever.” In this context the divine “word” specifically refers to his decreed promise assuring Jerusalem that her suffering is over and his glorious return imminent (vv. 1–5).
- 18 The second feminine singular imperatives are addressed to personified Zion/Jerusalem, who is here told to ascend a high hill and proclaim the good news of the Lord’s return to the other towns of Judah. Isa 41:27 and 52:7 speak of a herald sent to Zion, but the masculine singular form מְבַשֵּׂר (mévaser) is used in these verses, in contrast to the feminine singular form מְבַשֶּׂרֶת (mévaseret) employed in 40:9, where Zion is addressed as a herald.
The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press
In other versions
ESVEnglish Standard Version
A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Go on up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles
NIVNew International Version (2011)
A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.
CSBChristian Standard Bible
A voice was saying, “Cry out!”
Another said, “What should I cry out?”
“All humanity is grass,
and all its goodness is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flowers fade
when the breath of the Lord blows on them;
indeed, the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flowers fade,
but the word of our God remains forever.”
Zion, herald of good news,
go up on a high mountain.
Jerusalem, herald of good news,
raise your voice loudly.
Raise it, do not be afraid!
Say to the cities of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
NLTNew Living Translation
A voice said, “Shout!”
I asked, “What should I shout?”
“Shout that people are like the grass.
Their beauty fades as quickly
as the flowers in a field.
The grass withers and the flowers fade
beneath the breath of the Lord.
And so it is with people.
The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God stands forever.”
O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
“Your God is coming!”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
LEBThe Lexham English Bible
A voice is saying, “Call!”
And he said, “What shall I call?”
All humankind are grass,
and all his loyalty is like the flowers of the field.
Grass withers; the flower withers
when the breath of Yahweh blows on it.
Surely the people are grass.
Grass withers; the flower withers,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get yourself up to a high mountain, Zion, bringer of good news!
Lift up your voice with strength, Jerusalem, bringer of good news!
Lift it up; you must not fear!
Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
Copyright 2012 Lexham Press
KJV 1900King James Version
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.
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!
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