The spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it. — Better, the breath, or the wind of Jehovah, as we are still in the region of the parable, and the agency is destructive, and not quickening. A “wind of Jehovah” would be a mighty storm-blast, tearing up the grass and hurling it to destruction. The image of the fading flower reminds us of the well-known Homeric simile, “As are the generations of leaves, so are those of men.” (Comp. Psalms 103:15-16.)
The word of our God... — Primarily the prophetic word revealing the will of God, but including all manifestations of His being (Psalms 119:41; Psalms 119:65; Psalms 119:89; John 1:1).