All flesh is grass

All flesh is grass (Hebrew: כָּל־הַבָּשָׂ֣ר חָצִ֔יר kol-habbāsār ḥāṣīr)[1] is a phrase found in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 40, verses 6–8.

The English text in King James Version is as follows:[2] 6 The voice said, Cry.

All flesh is grass, 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: A more modern text, English Standard Version, reads:[3] 6 A voice says, “Cry!” All flesh is grass, 7 The grass withers, the flower fades 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, In the New Testament the phrase reoccurs in the First Epistle of Peter (see 1 Peter 1:24; Greek: πᾶσα σὰρξ ὡς χόρτος, pasa sarx hōs chortos[4]).

It was a commonly used epitaph, frequently found for example on old ledger stones and monuments in churches in 17th century England.

The phrase is interpreted to mean that human life is transitory ('impotent, perishing, limited').