Matthew 12:20

Authorized King James Version (1611)

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Κάλαμον συντετριμμένον οὐ κατεάξει, καὶ λίνον τυφόμενον οὐ σβέσει, ἕως ἂν ἐκβάλῃ εἰς νῖκος τὴν κρίσιν.

Transliteration

Kalamon syntetrimmenon not he will kateaxei, and linon typhomenon not he will sbesei, until an he ekbalē unto nikos the krisin.

Grammar Details

• *Kalamon*: accusative, masculine, singular - reed/staff
• *syntetrimmenon*: perfect passive participle, accusative, masculine, singular - having been bruised/broken
• *kateaxei*: future active indicative, 3rd person singular - will break
• *linon*: accusative, neuter, singular - flax/wick
• *typhomenon*: present passive participle, accusative, neuter, singular - smoking/smoldering
• *sbesei*: future active indicative, 3rd person singular - will quench/extinguish
• *an*: particle indicating contingency - would/might
• *ekbalē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might bring forth/lead out
• *nikos*: accusative, neuter, singular - victory/triumph
• *krisin*: accusative, feminine, singular - judgment/justice

Word Meanings

• *Kalamon*: reed/staff/measuring rod
• *syntetrimmenon*: bruised/broken/crushed
• *kateaxei*: will break/will snap/will shatter
• *linon*: flax/wick/linen
• *typhomenon*: smoking/smoldering/dimly burning
• *sbesei*: will quench/will extinguish/will put out
• *ekbalē*: might bring forth/might lead out/might send out
• *nikos*: victory/triumph/success
• *krisin*: judgment/justice/decision

Referenced Verses

• Isa 42:3-4 : 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
• Isa 61:1-3 : 1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
• Luke 4:18 : 18 ‹The Spirit of the Lord› [is] ‹upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,›
• Ps 147:3 : 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
• Isa 40:11 : 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.
• 2 Kgs 18:21 : 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.
• Ps 51:17 : 17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
• Ps 98:1-3 : 1 ¶ 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. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
• Lam 3:31-34 : 31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. 34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
• Ezek 34:16 : 16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
• Matt 11:28 : 28 ‹Come unto me, all› [ye] ‹that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.›
• Rom 15:17-19 : 17 ¶ I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
• 2 Cor 2:7 : 7 So that contrariwise ye [ought] rather to forgive [him], and comfort [him], lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
• 2 Cor 2:14 : 14 Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
• 2 Cor 10:3-5 : 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
• Heb 12:12-13 : 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
• Rev 6:2 : 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
• Rev 19:11-21 : 11 ¶ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
• Isa 57:15 : 15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.