Matthew 12:20

Matthew 12:20

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment to victory.

a. NLT: He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: A bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, till he may put forth judgment to victory, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings [g]justice and a just cause to victory. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench…”

a. [A] bruised [Strong: 4937. suntribo soon-tree'-bo from 4862 and the base of 5147; to crush completely, i.e. to shatter (literally or figuratively):--break (in pieces), broken to shivers (+ -hearted), bruise.]

b. reed 2563. kalamos kal'-am-os or uncertain affinity; a reed (the plant or its stem, or that of a similar plant); by implication, a pen:--pen, reed.]

c. [shall he] not [Strong: 3756. ou oo, also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

d. break [Strong: 2608. katagnumi kat-ag'-noo-mee from 2596 and the base of 4486; to rend in pieces, i.e. crack apart:--break.]

e. and [Strong: 2532. kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. smoking [Strong: 5188. tupho too'-fo apparently a primary verb; to make a smoke, i.e. slowly consume without flame:--smoke.] 

g. flax [Strong: 3043. linon lee'-non probably a primary word; flax, i.e. (by implication) "linen":--linen.]

h. [shall he] not [Strong: 3756. ou oo, also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

i. quench 4570. sbennumi sben'-noo-mee a prolonged form of an apparently primary verb; to extinguish (literally or figuratively):--go out, quench.]

1). Biblical scholars all agree that this verse reflects the gentleness and tenderness of Christ Jesus. That instead of breaking easily a bruised reed he would strengthen and heal it and instead of quenching completely a flax that was smoking he would cause to burn brightly again. 

2. “...till he send forth judgment to victory.”

a. till [Strong: 2193. heos heh'-oce of uncertain affinity; a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place):--even (until, unto), (as) far (as), how long, (un-)til(-l), (hither-, un-, up) to, while(-s).]

b. [Strong: 302. an an a primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty:--(what-, where-, wither-, who-)soever. Usually unexpressed except by the subjunctive or potential mood.]

c. [he] send forth [Strong: 1544. ekballo ek-bal'-lo from 1537 and 906; to eject (literally or figuratively):--bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out).]

d. judgment [Strong: 2920. krisis kree'-sis decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice (especially, divine law):--accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.]

e. unto [Strong: 1519. eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

f. victory [Strong: 3534. nikos nee'-kos from 3529; a conquest (concretely), i.e. (by implication) triumph:--victory.]