Matthew 12:20

KJV1611 – Modern English

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

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, until He leads justice to victory.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  A bruised{G4937} reed{G2563} shall he{G2608} not{G3756} break,{G2608} And{G2532} smoking{G5188} flax{G3043} shall he{G4570} not{G3756} quench,{G4570} Till{G2193} he{G302} send forth{G1544} judgment{G2920} unto{G1519} victory.{G3534}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  A bruised{G4937}{(G5772)} reed{G2563} shall he{G2608} not{G3756} break{G2608}{(G5656)}, and{G2532} smoking{G5188}{(G5746)} flax{G3043} shall he{G4570} not{G3756} quench{G4570}{(G5692)}, till{G2193}{G302} he send forth{G1544}{(G5632)} judgment{G2920} unto{G1519} victory{G3534}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  a brosed rede shall he not breacke and flaxe that begynneth to burne he shall not queche tyll he sende forth iudgement vnto victory

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  A brosed rede shal he not breake, and flax that beginneth to burne shal he not quench, tyll he sende forth iudgment vnto victory.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  A bruised reede shall he not breake, & smoking flaxe shal he not quenche, till he bring forth iudgement vnto victorie.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  A bruised reede shall he not breake, and smokyng flaxe shall he not quenche, tyll he sende foorth iudgement vnto victorie:

• 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a smoking flax, Until he leads justice to victory.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  a bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, till he may put forth judgment to victory,

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  The crushed stem will not be broken by him; and the feebly burning light will he not put out, till he has made righteousness overcome all.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until he brings justice to victory.

Referenced Verses

• Isa 42:3-4 : 3 A bruised reed he shall not break, and the smoking flax he shall not quench: he shall bring forth justice unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he has set justice in the earth: and the islands shall wait for his law.
• Isa 61:1-3 : 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give 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 has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
• Ps 147:3 : 3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds 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, you trust in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, which if a man leans, will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
• Ps 51:17 : 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
• Ps 98:1-3 : 1 O sing to the LORD a new song; for he has done marvelous things: his right hand and his holy arm have gained him the victory. 2 The LORD has made known his salvation: his righteousness he has openly shown in the sight of the nations. 3 He has 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 forever: 32 But though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. 33 For He does not willingly afflict or 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 back 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 to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
• Rom 15:17-19 : 17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in what pertains to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in making the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so from Jerusalem and all around to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
• 2 Cor 2:7 : 7 So, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.
• 2 Cor 2:14 : 14 Now thanks be to God, who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and reveals the fragrance of His knowledge by us in every place.
• 2 Cor 10:3-5 : 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh: 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds; 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
• Heb 12:12-13 : 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
• Rev 6:2 : 2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse: and he who 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 who sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that no one knew but he himself. 13 And he wore a robe dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he has on his robe 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 birds that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather together for the supper of the great God; 18 That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, 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 who sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked miracles before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with sulfur. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him who sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
• Isa 57:15 : 15 For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.