King James Bible
"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:"
A divine voice commands the prophet to proclaim a message, prompting Isaiah's question about the content. This dialogue structure emphasizes both the prophet's receptive obedience and the divine origin of the forthcoming revelation. The proclamation begins by comparing humanity to grass—emphasizing human mortality and transience. In the ancient Near East, grass quickly withered under the scorching sun, making this a vivid image of life's brevity. Human splendor and achievements are likened to wildflowers that bloom briefly before fading. The Hebrew word for 'goodliness' (chesed) can mean beauty, loyalty, or covenant love, suggesting even humanity's finest qualities are temporary compared to God's eternal nature.