A Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax
A. Maclaren, D. D. Isaiah 42:3-4 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment to truth.… The two metaphors are not altogether parallel. "A bruised reed" has suffered an injury which, however, is neither complete nor irreparable. "Smoking flax," on the other hand — by which, of course, is meant flax used as a wick in an old-fashioned oil lamp — is partially lit. In the one a process has been begun which, if continued, ends in destruction; in the other a process has been begun which, if continued, ends in a bright flame. So the one metaphor may express the beginnings of evil which may still be averted, and the other the beginnings of incipient and incomplete good. If we keep that distinction in mind, the words of our text gain wonderfully in comprehensiveness. (A. Maclaren, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. WEB: He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice.