New International Version A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. New Living Translation He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. English Standard Version a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; Berean Standard Bible A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. Berean Literal Bible A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He should put forth judgment to victory. King James Bible A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. New King James Version A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; New American Standard Bible “A BENT REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A DIMLY BURNING WICK HE WILL NOT EXTINGUISH, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. NASB 1995 “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. NASB 1977 “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. Legacy Standard Bible A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. Amplified Bible “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT EXTINGUISH, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. Berean Annotated Bible A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. Christian Standard Bible He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick, until he has led justice to victory. Holman Christian Standard Bible He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick, until He has led justice to victory. American Standard Version A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory. Contemporary English Version He won't break off a bent reed or put out a dying flame, but he will make sure that justice is done. English Revised Version A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory. GOD'S WORD® Translation He will not break off a damaged cattail. He will not even put out a smoking wick until he has made justice victorious. Good News Translation He will not break off a bent reed, nor put out a flickering lamp. He will persist until he causes justice to triumph, International Standard Version He will not snap off a broken reed or snuff out a smoldering wick until he has brought justice through to victory. NET Bible He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until he brings justice to victory. New Heart English Bible He won't break a bruised reed. And he won't put out a smoldering wick, until he leads justice to victory. Webster's Bible Translation A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he shall send forth judgment to victory. Weymouth New Testament A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the still smouldering wick, until He has led on Justice to victory. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleA bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. World English Bible He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionA bruised reed He will not break, "" And smoking flax He will not quench, "" Until He may put forth judgment to victory, Berean Literal Bible A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He should put forth judgment to victory. Young's Literal Translation a bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, till he may put forth judgment to victory, Smith's Literal Translation He shall not break a bruised reed, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he should draw forth judgment to victory. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe bruised reed he shall not break: and smoking flax he shall not extinguish: till he send forth judgment unto victory. Catholic Public Domain Version He shall not crush the bruised reed, and he shall not extinguish the smoking wick, until he sends forth judgment unto victory. New American Bible A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. New Revised Standard Version He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe will not break even a bruised reed, and he will not extinguish a flickering lamp, until he brings justice to victory; Aramaic Bible in Plain English He will not break off a fractured reed, and the lamp that flickers he will not extinguish until he will bring the verdict of innocence, NT Translations Anderson New TestamentA bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoking wick he shall not extinguish, till he shall send forth his law for conquest. Godbey New Testament The bruised reed He will not break, and He will not quench the smoking wick, until He may send forth judgment unto victory. Haweis New Testament A bruised reed shall he not break down, and smoking flax shall he not quench, until he break forth in judgment for victory. Mace New Testament a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoaking flax shall he not quench, till he hath made justice victorious. Weymouth New Testament A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the still smouldering wick, until He has led on Justice to victory. Worrell New Testament A bruised reed will He not break, and a smoking flax will He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory; Worsley New Testament a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax he will not extinguish, till He send forth judgement victorious. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context God's Chosen Servant…19He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. 20A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. 21In His name the nations will put their hope.”… Cross References A bruised reed He will not break, Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. Leviticus 6:12-13 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. / The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished. 1 Samuel 3:3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located. till He leads justice to victory. Isaiah 42:4 He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.” Psalm 72:4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor. Revelation 19:11-16 Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. … Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, Isaiah 40:11 He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes. Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. Treasury of Scripture A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment to victory. bruised. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 2 Kings 18:21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. till. Psalm 98:1-3 A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory… Isaiah 42:3,4 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth… Romans 15:17-19 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God… Jump to Previous Battered Break Broken Bruised Burning Crushed Feebly Flax Forth Judgment Justice Leads Overcome Quench Reed Righteousness Smoking Smoldering Stem Utterly Victory Wick Won'tJump to Next Battered Break Broken Bruised Burning Crushed Feebly Flax Forth Judgment Justice Leads Overcome Quench Reed Righteousness Smoking Smoldering Stem Utterly Victory Wick Won'tMatthew 12 1. Jesus reproves the blindness of the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath,3. by scripture, 9. by reason, 13. and by a miracle. 22. He heals a man possessed that was blind and mute; 24. and confronting the absurd charge of casting out demons by Beelzebub, 32. he shows that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven. 36. Account shall be made of idle words. 38. He rebukes the unfaithful, who seek after a sign, 46. and shows who is his brother, sister, and mother. A bruised reed He will not break, Jesus tenderly receives those weakened by sin, suffering, or rejection. Rather than casting aside the broken and helpless, He restores them through His mercy and truth. Isa 42:3 A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick… and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, He does not abandon those whose faith or hope has become faint. Christ patiently sustains those who come to Him, strengthening what is weak and preserving those who depend on Him. 1Th 5:19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. till He leads justice to victory. His quiet compassion does not diminish His authority or His purpose. He will bring God’s righteous judgment to its final triumph, defeating sin and establishing justice under His reign. Isa 42:4 He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has… Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, embodying compassion and justice. He is the fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah, demonstrating His gentle and restorative nature. 2. Isaiah the Prophet The original prophecy comes from Isaiah 42:3, which Matthew quotes to show Jesus as the Messiah who brings hope and restoration. 3. The Pharisees Religious leaders of the time who often opposed Jesus. Their legalistic approach contrasts with Jesus' compassionate ministry. 4. The People of Israel The primary audience of Jesus' ministry, many of whom were marginalized and oppressed, symbolized by the "bruised reed" and "smoldering wick." 5. The Gentiles Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the broader context of Matthew 12 includes Jesus' mission to bring justice and hope to all nations. Teaching Points Gentleness in LeadershipJesus exemplifies leadership that is compassionate and restorative. As followers of Christ, we are called to lead with gentleness, especially towards those who are struggling. Hope for the Broken The imagery of the "bruised reed" and "smoldering wick" assures us that Jesus does not discard the weak or faltering. We can find hope and restoration in Him. Justice with Compassion True justice, as demonstrated by Jesus, is not harsh or punitive but seeks restoration and healing. We should strive to reflect this in our interactions with others. Perseverance in Faith Just as Jesus leads justice to victory, we are encouraged to persevere in our faith, trusting that He will bring about His purposes in His perfect timing. Empathy and Support We are called to support and uplift those who are "bruised" or "smoldering" in our communities, offering encouragement and practical help. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 12:20?2. How does Matthew 12:20 demonstrate Jesus' compassion towards the weak and broken? 3. What does "a bruised reed" symbolize in Matthew 12:20? 4. How can we apply the gentleness of Christ in our daily interactions? 5. Connect Matthew 12:20 with Isaiah 42:3. What prophecy is being fulfilled? 6. How does understanding Matthew 12:20 encourage patience in our spiritual growth? 7. What does "A bruised reed He will not break" signify in Matthew 12:20? 8. How does Matthew 12:20 reflect Jesus' approach to justice and mercy? 9. Why is the imagery of a "smoldering wick" used in Matthew 12:20? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 12? (20) A bruised reed shall he not break.--The prophet's words described a character of extremest gentleness. The "bruised reed" is the type of one broken by the weight of sorrow, or care, or sin. Such a one men in general disregard or trample on. The Christ did not so act, but sought rather to bind up and strengthen. The "smoking flax" is the wick of the lamp which has ceased to burn clearly, and the clouded flame of which seems to call for prompt extinction. Here (as afterwards, in Matthew 25:1-8) we read a parable of the souls in which the light that should shine before men has grown dim. Base desires have clogged it; it is no longer fed with the true oil. For such the self-righteous Pharisee had no pity; he simply gave thanks that his own lamp was burning. But the Christ in His tenderness sought, if it were possible, to trim the lamp and to pour in the oil till the flame was bright again. We cannot help feeling, as we read the words, that the publican-apostle had found their fulfilment in his own personal experience of the profound tenderness of his Master. Till he send forth judgment unto victory.--In the Hebrew, unto truth. The citation was apparently from memory. What is implied in both readings is, that this tender compassion was to characterise the whole work of the Christ until the time of final judgment should arrive, and truth should at last prevail. Verse 20. - A bruised reed shall he not break, and-smoking flax shall he not quench. Though what more feeble than a cracked reed or a wick just flickering? Yet he reckons neither as useless; he allows for possibilities of improvement. His treatment of the believer who is weakest, and, so to speak, least alive, is marked by long-suffering and gentleness. Observe that(1) Matthew omits the words, "He shall not burn dimly nor be discouraged," because he is not concerned with anything else than Christ's relation to others; (2) he combines into one the two clauses of Isaiah, "He shall bring forth judgment in truth" and "Till he have set judgment in the earth." Till he send forth (ἕως α}ν ἐκβάλῃ). This being the supreme object of Messiah's life and energy - bringing out, as from his own plans and resources, judgment unto victory; i.e. the revelation of the Divine Law (ver. 18, note) to a successful issue in human hearts. Unto victory. Apparently only a paraphrase of the thought in Isaiah. Matthew 12:20 paints Jesus as tender toward the wounded and patient with the faint-hearted, yet relentless in accomplishing final justice. If you feel like a cracked reed or a dying ember, He will not discard you; He will restore you. And while He nurtures individual souls, He presses on until all creation sees justice crowned with victory.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek A bruisedσυντετριμμένον (syntetrimmenon) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 4937: From sun and the base of tribos; to crush completely, i.e. To shatter. reed κάλαμον (kalamon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 2563: A reed; a reed-pen, reed-staff, measuring rod. Or uncertain affinity; a reed; by implication, a pen. He will not break, κατεάξει (kateaxei) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2608: To break down (in pieces), crush, break into. From kata and the base of rhegnumi; to rend in pieces, i.e. Crack apart. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. a smoldering τυφόμενον (typhomenon) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 5188: To raise smoke, smolder. Apparently a primary verb; to make a smoke, i.e. Slowly consume without flame. wick λίνον (linon) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 3043: Flax, linen. Probably a primary word; flax, i.e. 'linen'. He will not extinguish, σβέσει (sbesei) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 4570: (a) I extinguish, quench, (b) I suppress, thwart. A prolonged form of an apparently primary verb; to extinguish. till ἕως (heōs) Conjunction Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until. He leads ἐκβάλῃ (ekbalē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1544: To throw (cast, put) out; I banish; I bring forth, produce. From ek and ballo; to eject. justice κρίσιν (krisin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 2920: Decision; by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice. to εἰς (eis) Preposition Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. victory. νῖκος (nikos) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 3534: Victory. From nike; a conquest, i.e. triumph. 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