Isaiah 40:6 - Exposition

The voice said, Cry; rather, a voice of else that sayeth , Cry. It is a second voice, distinct from that of Isaiah 40:3 , that now reaches the prophet's ear—a voice responded to by another. The speakers seem to be angels, who contrast the perishable nature of man with the enduringness and unchangingness of God. The point of their discourse is that "the Word of the Lord endureth for ever" ( Isaiah 40:8 ), and therefore the preceding promises ( Isaiah 40:2 , Isaiah 40:5 ) are sure. And he said ; rather, and one said. A second voice answered the first, and asked what the proclamation was to be. In reply its terms were given. All flesh is grass (comp. Isaiah 37:27 ; and see also Job 5:25 ; Psalms 90:5 ; Psalms 92:7 ; Psalms 103:15 ). The goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. So Ephraim was compared in Isaiah 28:1 to "a fading flower." The similitude is found also in Job 14:2 and in Psalms 103:15 . Homer approaches the idea in his well-known simile, οἵη περ φύλλων γενεὴ τοιήδε καὶ ἀνδρῶν ('Iliad,' 6:146).