KJV: A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
YLT: a bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, till he may put forth judgment to victory,
Darby: a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, until he bring forth judgment unto victory;
ASV: A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory.
| κάλαμον | A reed |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: κάλαμος Sense: a reed. |
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| συντετριμμένον | bruised |
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Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: συντρίβω Sense: break, to break in pieces, shiver. |
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| κατεάξει | He will break |
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Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: κατάγνυμι Sense: to break. |
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| λίνον | a wick |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: λίνον Sense: linen clothing made from flax. |
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| τυφόμενον | smoldering |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: τύφω Sense: to cause or emit smoke, raise a smoke. |
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| σβέσει | He will quench |
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Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ζβέννυμι Sense: to extinguish, quench. |
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| ἕως | until |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ἕως Sense: till, until. |
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| ἂν | - |
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Parse: Particle Root: ἄν Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV. |
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| ἐκβάλῃ | He leads |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐκβάλλω Sense: to cast out, drive out, to send out. |
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| νῖκος | victory |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: νῖκος Sense: victory. |
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| τὴν | - |
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Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| κρίσιν | justice |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: κρίσις Sense: a separating, sundering, separation. |
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Greek Commentary for Matthew 12:20
Perfect passive participle of συντριβω suntribō A crushed reed he will not break. The curious augment in κατεαχει kateaxei (future active indicative) is to be noted. The copyists kept the augment where it did not belong in this verb (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1212) even in Plato. “Smoking flax” The wick of a lamp, smoking and flickering and going out. Only here in N.T. Flax in Exodus 9:31. Vivid images that picture Jesus in the same strain as his own great words in Matthew 11:28-30. [source]
The Hebrew is, literally, a dimly burning wick he shall not quench (Isaiah 42:3). The quotation stops at the end of the third verse in the prophecy; but the succeeding verse is beautifully suggestive as describing the Servant of Jehovah by the same figures in which he pictures his suffering ones - a wick and a reed. “He shall not burn dimly, neither shall his spirit be crushed.” He himself, partaking of the nature of our frail humanity, is both a lamp and a reed, humble, but not to be broken, and the “light of the world.” Compare the beautiful passage in Dante, where Cato directs Virgil to wash away the stains of the nether world from Dante's face, and to prepare him for the ascent of the purgatorial mount by girding him with a rush, the emblem of humility:“Go, then, and see thou gird this one aboutWith a smooth rush, and that thou wash his face, So that thou cleanse away all stain therefrom. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- For 'twere not fitting that the eye o'ercast-DIVIDER- By any mist should go before the first-DIVIDER- Angel, who is of those of Paradise. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- This little island, round about its base,-DIVIDER- Below there, yonder, where the billow beats it,-DIVIDER- Doth rushes bear upon its washy ooze. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- No other plant that putteth forth the leaf,-DIVIDER- Or that doth indurate, can there have life,-DIVIDER- Because it yieldeth not unto the shocks. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- he begirt me as the other pleased;-DIVIDER- O marvellous I for even as he culled-DIVIDER- The humble plant, such it sprang up again-DIVIDER- Suddenly there where he uprooted it.”Purg., i., 94-105,138-187. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 12:20
Lit., broken in pieces. Only here in New Testament. Wyc., to deliver broken men into remission. The same Hebrew word is used in Isaiah 42:3: “a crushed reed shall he not break,” which the Septuagint translates by τεθλασμένον , a word which does not occur in the New Testament. In the citation of this latter passage (Matthew 12:20, on which see) the word for bruised is συντρίβω , which the Septuagint uses for break. [source]
First aorist passive infinitive with double augment, whereas the infinitive is not supposed to have any augment. The regular form would be ανοιχτηναι anoichthēnai as in D (Codex Bezae). So the augment appears in the future indicative κατεαχει kateaxei (Matthew 12:20) and the second aorist passive subjunctive κατεαγωσιν kateagōsin (John 19:31). Such unusual forms appear in the Koiné. This infinitive here with the accusative of general reference is the subject of εγενετο egeneto (it came to pass). Matthew 3:16 uses the same verb, but Mark 1:10 has σχιζομενους schizomenous rent asunder. [source]
Genitive absolute construction, first aorist passive participle. In Luke‘s sentence the baptism of Jesus is merely introductory to the descent of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father. For the narrative of the baptism see note on Mark 1:9; notes on Matthew 3:13-16.And praying (και προσευχομενου kai proseuchomenou). Alone in Luke who so often mentions the praying of Jesus. Present participle and so naturally meaning that the heaven was opened while Jesus was praying though not necessarily in answer to his prayer.The heaven was opened First aorist passive infinitive with double augment, whereas the infinitive is not supposed to have any augment. The regular form would be ανοιχτηναι anoichthēnai as in D (Codex Bezae). So the augment appears in the future indicative κατεαχει kateaxei (Matthew 12:20) and the second aorist passive subjunctive κατεαγωσιν kateagōsin (John 19:31). Such unusual forms appear in the Koiné. This infinitive here with the accusative of general reference is the subject of εγενετο egeneto (it came to pass). Matthew 3:16 uses the same verb, but Mark 1:10 has σχιζομενους schizomenous rent asunder. [source]
Friday. See John 19:14. Might not remain Negative final clause with ινα μη hina mē and first aorist active (constative) subjunctive of μενω menō A high day A “great” day, since “the sabbath day following synchronized with the first day of unleavened bread which was a ‹great‘ day” (Bernard). A double reason therefore for wanting the bodies removed before sunset when the Sabbath began. That their legs might be broken Purpose clause with ινα hina and the second aorist passive subjunctive of καταγνυμι katagnumi with the augment retained in the subjunctive, a “false augment” common in later Greek as in the future in Matthew 12:20 with this verb (Robertson, Grammar, p. 365). This crurifragium was done with a heavy mallet and ended the sufferings of the victim. Legs Old word, here only in N.T. Might be taken away First aorist passive subjunctive of αιρω airō with ινα hina also. [source]
Late word in this sense a large stone against the door in Homer, from τυρα thura door, large and oblong (Latin scutum), ασπις aspis being smaller and circular, only here in N.T. To quench (σβεσαι sbesai). First aorist active infinitive of σβεννυμι sbennumi old word, to extinguish (Matthew 12:20). All the fiery darts ελος Belos is an old word for missile, dart (from βαλλω ballō to throw), only here in N.T. Πεπυρωμενα Pepurōmena is perfect passive participle of πυροω puroō old verb, to set on fire, from πυρ pur (fire). These darts were sometimes ablaze in order to set fire to the enemies‘ clothing or camp or homes just as the American Indians used to shoot poisoned arrows. [source]
First aorist active infinitive of σβεννυμι sbennumi old word, to extinguish (Matthew 12:20). [source]
First aorist active indicative of σβεννυμι sbennumi (Matthew 12:20). See Daniel 3:19-28. Escaped the edge of the sword Second aorist active indicative of πευγω pheugō old verb to flee. “Mouths See 1 Samuel 18:11; 1 Kings 19:2. Were made strong First aorist passive indicative of δυναμοω dunamoō late verb from δυναμις dunamis as in Colossians 1:11. Waxed mighty in war “Became strong in battle” (Psalm 18:34.). Armies of aliens Late compound Apparently a reference to the campaigns of Judas Maccabeus. [source]
Neuter singular perfect passive participle of γενναω gennaō rather than the masculine singular (1 John 5:1) to express sharply the universality of the principle (Rothe) as in John 3:6, John 3:8; John 6:37, John 6:39.Overcometh the world (νικαι τον κοσμον nikāi ton kosmon). Present active indicative of νικαω nikaō a continuous victory because a continuous struggle, “keeps on conquering the world” (“the sum of all the forces antagonistic to the spiritual life,” D. Smith).This is the victory For this form of expression see 1 John 1:5; John 1:19. Νικη Nikē (victory, cf. νικαω nikaō), old word, here alone in N.T., but the later form νικος nikos in Matthew 12:20; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 1 Corinthians 15:57.That overcometh (η νικησασα hē nikēsasa). First aorist active articular participle of νικαω nikaō The English cannot reproduce the play on the word here. The aorist tense singles out an individual experience when one believed or when one met temptation with victory. Jesus won the victory over the world (John 16:33) and God in us (1 John 4:4) gives us the victory.Even our faith The only instance of πιστις pistis in the Johannine Epistles (not in John‘s Gospel, though in the Apocalypse). It is our faith in Jesus Christ as shown by our confession (1 John 5:1) and by our life (1 John 5:2). [source]
For this form of expression see 1 John 1:5; John 1:19. Νικη Nikē (victory, cf. νικαω nikaō), old word, here alone in N.T., but the later form νικος nikos in Matthew 12:20; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 1 Corinthians 15:57.That overcometh (η νικησασα hē nikēsasa). First aorist active articular participle of νικαω nikaō The English cannot reproduce the play on the word here. The aorist tense singles out an individual experience when one believed or when one met temptation with victory. Jesus won the victory over the world (John 16:33) and God in us (1 John 4:4) gives us the victory.Even our faith The only instance of πιστις pistis in the Johannine Epistles (not in John‘s Gospel, though in the Apocalypse). It is our faith in Jesus Christ as shown by our confession (1 John 5:1) and by our life (1 John 5:2). [source]