en_tn_lite_do_not_use/isa/40/23.md

He reduces

"God reduces"

they are barely planted…they have barely taken root in the earth

Isaiah compares the rulers to a seed that is not planted firmly in the ground. This emphasizes they are insignificant before God. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

the wind blows them away like straw

This emphasizes that God can easily defeat human rulers. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile)