Wednesday, September 5, 2012

"A voice says, 'Cry!' And I said, 'What shall I cry?' All flesh is grass, and all its beauty (חֶסֶד) 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" (Isa 40:6-8).

What is all flesh? Grass (40:6)
What is all its חֶסֶד like? The flower of the field (40:6)

[What is חֶסֶד (ches-ed)? Lasting loyalty, faithfulness, goodness, graciousness (HALOT, 337)]

What withers? Grass (40:7)
What fades? The flower (40:7)
When? When the breath of the Lord blows on it (40:7).
What blows on it? The breath of the Lord (40:7)
What are the people? Surely the people are grass (40:7).

What withers? Grass (40:8)
What fades? The flower (40:8)

But…

How long will the word of our God stand? Forever (40:8)