Matthew 12:20

Webster's Bible (1833)

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

Referenced Verses

• Isa 42:3-4 : 3 A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.
• Isa 61:1-3 : 1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
• Luke 4:18 : 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, Because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim release to the captives, Recovering of sight to the blind, To deliver those who are crushed,
• Ps 147:3 : 3 He heals the broken in heart, And binds up their wounds.
• Isa 40:11 : 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, [and] will gently lead those who have their young.
• 2 Kgs 18:21 : 21 Now, behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on 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 > Sing to Yahweh a new song, For he has done marvelous things! His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him. 2 Yahweh has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness 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 For though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. 33 For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. 34 To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,
• Ezek 34:16 : 16 I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.
• Matt 11:28 : 28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
• Rom 15:17-19 : 17 I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God's Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ;
• 2 Cor 2:7 : 7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.
• 2 Cor 2:14 : 14 Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.
• 2 Cor 10:3-5 : 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh; 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, 5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
• Heb 12:12-13 : 12 Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
• Rev 6:2 : 2 And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.
• Rev 19:11-21 : 11 I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. 13 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called "The Word of God." 14 The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. 15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." 17 I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God,{TR reads "supper of the great God" instead of "great supper of God"} 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, 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, and small and great." 19 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 The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. 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.