Matthew 12:20

20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.

Matthew 12:20 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
English Standard Version (ESV)
20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
New Living Translation (NLT)
20 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
The Message Bible (MSG)
20 He won't walk over anyone's feelings, won't push you into a corner. Before you know it, his justice will triumph;
American Standard Version (ASV)
20 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 (GW)
20 He will not break off a damaged cattail. He will not even put out a smoking wick until he has made justice victorious.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
20 He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick, until He has led justice to victory.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
20 He will not break a bent twig. He will not put out a dimly burning flame. He will make everything right.

Matthew 12:20 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:20

A bruised reed shall he not break
Various are the thoughts of interpreters, about what is meant by this, and by

the smoking flax shall he not quench.
Some think the Scribes and Pharisees are designed, whose power Christ could easily crush, and their wrath and fury restrain, but would not, till the time of his vengeance was come. Others that the publicans and sinners are intended, of whose conversion and salvation there were more hope than of the Scribes and Pharisees; and which Christ greatly sought after, and therefore cherished and encouraged them in his ministry and conversation. Some are of opinion, that such who have fallen into sin, and are under great decays of grace, are meant, whom Christ has compassion on, succours, and restores: but rather young converts, such as are under first awakenings, are here pointed at; who, like to a "bruised reed", or "broken" one, one that is in some measure broke, near being broken to pieces, are wounded in their spirits, have their hearts broken and contrite, under a sense of their sinfulness, vileness, weakness, and unworthiness; whom Christ is so far from breaking and destroying, that he binds up their broken hearts, heals their wounds, and restores comforts to them: and who are like to "smoking flax", or, as the Syriac reads it, (Pjpjmd) (agrv) , "a smoking lamp"; to which the Arabic and Persic versions agree; meaning the wick of the lamp, which being just lighted, seems ready to go out, having scarce any light, only a little fire in it, which makes it smoke: so these have but little light of knowledge, faith, and comfort, and a great deal of darkness and infirmity; only there is some warmth in their affections, which go upwards "like pillars of smoke, perfumed with frankincense"; and such Christ is so far from neglecting, and putting out, that he blows up the sparks of grace into a flame, and never utterly leaves the work,

till he sends forth judgment into victory;
that is, till he sends forth the Gospel into their hearts, accompanied with his mighty power, in the light and comfort of it; which informs their judgments, enlightens their understandings, bows their wills, raises their affections, sanctifies their souls, works effectually in them, under the influence of his Spirit and grace, to the carrying on of the work of grace in them to the end; and making them victorious over all their enemies, and more than conquerors, through him that has loved them. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases the words thus;

``the meek, who are as a bruised reed, he will not break; and the poor, who are as an obscure lamp, he will not quench.''

Matthew 12:20 In-Context

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
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