Matthew 12:20 kjv
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Matthew 12:20 nkjv
A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory;
Matthew 12:20 niv
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 esv
a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
Matthew 12:20 nlt
He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
Matthew 12 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Is. 42:1-4 | "Here is my servant, whom I uphold... He will not shout or cry aloud... a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope." | Direct prophecy fulfillment and servant nature |
| Is. 61:1 | "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me... to bind up the brokenhearted..." | Jesus' mission to heal the afflicted |
| Mt. 11:28 | "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." | Jesus' invitation to the downtrodden |
| Ps. 147:3 | "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." | God's compassionate healing |
| Zech. 9:9 | "See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey..." | Messiah's humble approach to victory |
| Lk. 4:18-19 | "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor... to set the oppressed free..." | Jesus' public ministry purpose |
| Mk. 10:45 | "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." | Jesus' self-giving servant leadership |
| Jn. 1:4-5 | "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." | Jesus as sustaining light/hope |
| Is. 40:11 | "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." | God's tender care |
| Is. 50:4 | "The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary..." | Messiah's words bring life and sustenance |
| Heb. 4:15 | "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin." | Jesus' empathy for human weakness |
| 1 Pet. 2:24 | "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." | Jesus' healing through suffering |
| 1 Thes. 5:14 | "And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone." | Call to gentleness in ministry |
| 2 Tim. 2:24-25 | "And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed..." | Instructions for patient instruction |
| Is. 11:4 | "He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth." | Messiah's just judgment |
| Is. 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born... He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever." | Messiah's reign of justice |
| Phil. 1:9-11 | "...your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." | Growth in righteousness until final triumph |
| Jn. 12:32 | "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” | Jesus' method of drawing people to himself |
| Ps. 96:13 | "He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness." | God's ultimate righteous judgment |
| 1 Cor. 15:54 | "...Then will come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" | Ultimate victory over death |
| Rev. 22:20 | "He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." | Anticipation of Christ's victorious return |
| Jn. 16:33 | "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." | Jesus' ultimate triumph over worldly trouble |
Matthew 12 verses
Matthew 12 20 Meaning
Matthew 12:20 portrays Jesus' ministry as one of profound gentleness and patience towards the weak, marginalized, and struggling. He does not oppress those who are already broken or extinguish the faintest spark of hope or faith. His compassionate approach is purposeful, enduring until God's righteous rule and definitive justice are ultimately and triumphantly established. It describes the Messiah's gentle yet powerful way of establishing His kingdom, contrasting sharply with worldly power or harsh judgment.
Matthew 12 20 Context
Matthew 12:20 is part of Matthew's account of Jesus' early public ministry, specifically following several confrontations with the Pharisees regarding the Sabbath and Jesus' authority. In the preceding verses (Mt. 12:1-14), Jesus permits His disciples to pluck grain on the Sabbath and heals a man with a withered hand, sparking the Pharisees' plot to destroy Him. Matthew notes Jesus' withdrawal from their malice, followed by His continued healing ministry. Verse 17 then introduces this verse as a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the Messiah. This immediate context highlights the contrast between the harsh, judgmental legalism of the Pharisees and Jesus' gentle, compassionate, yet ultimately authoritative, way of establishing God's kingdom.
Historically, this passage grounds Jesus firmly in the prophetic tradition of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, presenting a Messiah quite different from the militant, political leader many Jewish people anticipated to overthrow Roman rule. Instead, Jesus brings healing and quiet justice.
Matthew 12 20 Word analysis
A bruised reed: Greek: κάλαμον συντετριμμένον (kalamon syntetrimmenon).
- κάλαμον (kalamon): Refers to a "reed," a common, weak, and hollow plant, easily broken.
- συντετριμμένον (syntetrimmenon): Signifies "crushed," "bruised," "shattered."
- Significance: Metaphorically represents the physically, emotionally, or spiritually broken; those in despair, weak in faith, or marginalized by society and religious authorities. It highlights extreme vulnerability and frailty.
he will not break: Greek: οὐ κατέαξεν (ou kateaxen).
- οὐ (ou): A strong negative particle, meaning "not."
- κατέαξεν (kateaxen): Means "will break thoroughly," "smash."
- Significance: Jesus will not crush or further harm those who are already struggling. His disposition is one of tender care, nurture, and preservation. He rebuilds rather than destroys the fragile.
and a smoldering wick: Greek: λίνον τυφόμενον (linon typomenon).
- λίνον (linon): Means "flax" or "linen wick," referring to the small fiber in an oil lamp.
- τυφόμενον (typomenon): Denotes "smoldering," "dimly burning," "flickering," implying a lamp wick with a faint glow, near extinction.
- Significance: Represents weak, near-extinguished faith, faint hope, or lives that seem to hold only a dim spark of potential.
he will not snuff out: Greek: οὐ σβέσει (ou sbeses).
- οὐ (ou): "Not."
- σβέσει (sbeses): "Will extinguish," "will quench."
- Significance: Jesus will not let even the faintest glimmer of faith or life die out. Instead, He tends, protects, and revives, offering renewed light and hope.
until he has brought justice: Greek: ἕως ἂν ἐκβάλῃ τὴν κρίσιν (heōs an ekbalē tēn krisin).
- ἕως ἂν (heōs an): "Until," indicating a decisive culmination or turning point.
- ἐκβάλῃ (ekbalē): Literally "casts out" or "brings forth," implying a powerful and decisive establishment.
- τὴν κρίσιν (tēn krisin): "The justice" or "judgment." In this context, it refers to God's righteous rule, administration, or a divine decision that leads to vindication.
- Significance: Jesus' patient, gentle ministry is not an end in itself but leads definitively to the full establishment of God's just order and righteous governance, even against opposition. It ensures the triumph of truth.
to victory: Greek: εἰς νῖκος (eis nikos).
- εἰς (eis): "Into," "unto," "for."
- νῖκος (nikos): "Victory," "triumph," "conquest." This particular phrase krisis eis nikos is unique to Matthew's quote, emphasizing the triumphant aspect missing in the Septuagint.
- Significance: The ultimate and unchallengeable triumph of God's justice. It guarantees that despite present weakness or struggles, God's kingdom and righteousness will ultimately prevail completely and victoriously.
Matthew 12 20 Bonus section
The choice of Isaiah 42 by Matthew (one of the "Servant Songs") serves a crucial apologetic purpose. It portrays Jesus not just as a prophet but the Suffering Servant-Messiah prophesied long ago, thereby confirming His identity to Jewish readers. Matthew's slight modification from "justice in truth" (LXX Isaiah 42:3) to "justice to victory" (Matthew 12:20) further amplifies the Messiah's assured triumph and decisive establishment of His righteous reign. This highlights that Jesus' kingdom-building method, characterized by humility and gentleness, is precisely the means through which God’s ultimate dominion will be revealed in total conquest and absolute success, without any faltering.
Matthew 12 20 Commentary
Matthew 12:20 profoundly defines Jesus' character and method of ministry. Quoting Isaiah 42:3, Matthew emphasizes that the Messiah operates with remarkable tenderness, specifically towards those overlooked or deemed insignificant by the world. The imagery of a "bruised reed" and "smoldering wick" powerfully conveys extreme fragility and a glimmer of existence or hope on the verge of disappearing. Jesus, contrary to expectations of a forceful revolutionary or a harsh judge, carefully sustains and nourishes these frailest of lives and faintest of hopes. His gentleness is not weakness but a powerful, purposeful compassion that will culminate in the definitive establishment of divine justice. The addition "to victory" by Matthew accentuates the certainty and triumph of this patient process. This passage reassures that God's justice is not dispensed brutally but through a compassionate hand, leading inevitably to His final, glorious victory where His perfect righteousness will reign.
- Example: A struggling believer filled with doubt (smoldering wick) is not abandoned but gently nurtured back to vibrant faith.
- Example: Someone ostracized by society (bruised reed) finds acceptance and healing in Christ.