Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; New Living Translation He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. English Standard Version a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Berean Standard Bible A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. King James Bible A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. New King James Version A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. New American Standard Bible “A bent reed He will not break off And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. NASB 1995 “A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. NASB 1977 “A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Legacy Standard Bible A crushed reed He will not break And a faintly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will bring forth justice in truth. Amplified Bible “A broken reed He will not break [off] And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish [He will not harm those who are weak and suffering]; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Christian Standard Bible He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick; he will faithfully bring justice. Holman Christian Standard Bible He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick; He will faithfully bring justice. American Standard Version A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. Contemporary English Version He won't break off a bent reed or put out a dying flame, but he will make sure that justice is done. English Revised Version A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment in truth. GOD'S WORD® Translation He will not break off a damaged cattail. He will not even put out a smoking wick. He will faithfully bring about justice. Good News Translation He will not break off a bent reed nor put out a flickering lamp. He will bring lasting justice to all. International Standard Version A crushed reed he will not break, and a fading candle he won't snuff out. He'll bring forth justice for the truth. Majority Standard Bible A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. NET Bible A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully make just decrees. New Heart English Bible He won't break a bruised reed. And he won't extinguish a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice. Webster's Bible Translation A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment to truth. World English Bible He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionA bruised reed He does not break, "" And faded flax He does not quench, "" He brings forth judgment to truth. Young's Literal Translation A bruised reed he breaketh not, And dim flax he quencheth not, To truth he bringeth forth judgment. Smith's Literal Translation A broken reed he shall not break, and bedimmed flax shall he not quench it: he shall bring forth judgment to truth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. Catholic Public Domain Version The bruised reed he will not break, and the smoldering wick he will not extinguish. He will lead forth judgment unto truth. New American Bible A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench. He will faithfully bring forth justice. New Revised Standard Version a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleA bruised reed shall he not break, and a flickering lamp he shall not extinguish; he shall truly bring forth judgment. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated A fractured reed he shall not break and the lamp that flickers he shall not extinguish. In the truth he shall bring out judgment OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917A bruised reed shall he not break, And the dimly burning wick shall he not quench; He shall make the right to go forth according to the truth. Brenton Septuagint Translation A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench; but he shall bring forth judgement to truth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Here is My Servant…2He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets. 3A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. 4He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.”… Cross References Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Luke 4:18 “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 proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, Isaiah 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 the nursing ewes. Ezekiel 34:16 I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’ Jeremiah 31:25 for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.” Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. James 1:19-20 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, / for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. Treasury of Scripture A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment to truth. bruised Isaiah 35:3,4 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees… Isaiah 40:11,29-31 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… Isaiah 50:4,10 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned… smoking. Isaiah 11:3,4 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: … Psalm 72:2-4 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment… Psalm 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. Jump to Previous Break Breaketh Broken Bruised Burning Crushed Dim Dimly Extinguish Faithfully Feebly Flax Forth Judgment Justice Light Peoples Quench Quite Reed Right Sending Smoking Smoldering Snuff Stem True. Truth Wick Won't WordJump to Next Break Breaketh Broken Bruised Burning Crushed Dim Dimly Extinguish Faithfully Feebly Flax Forth Judgment Justice Light Peoples Quench Quite Reed Right Sending Smoking Smoldering Snuff Stem True. Truth Wick Won't WordIsaiah 42 1. The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy.5. God's promise unto him. 10. An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel 13. God will manifest himself, and check idolatry 18. He reproves the people of incredulity. A bruised reed He will not break This phrase highlights the gentle and compassionate nature of the Servant, often interpreted as a prophecy about the Messiah. In ancient times, reeds were common in the marshy areas of Israel and were used for various purposes, but a bruised reed was considered useless and easily discarded. The imagery suggests that the Servant will not discard or destroy those who are weak or damaged. This reflects God's mercy and patience, as seen in Psalm 103:13-14, where God is described as compassionate and understanding of human frailty. The phrase also connects to Jesus' ministry, where He showed kindness to the marginalized and broken-hearted, as seen in His interactions with the sick and sinners (Matthew 9:12-13). and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Servant of the LordThis passage is part of the "Servant Songs" in Isaiah, which prophetically describe the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as the Servant who brings justice and compassion. 2. Isaiah The prophet who authored the book, delivering God's messages to the people of Israel during a time of moral and spiritual decline. 3. Israel The nation to whom Isaiah prophesied, often depicted as a "bruised reed" or "smoldering wick" due to their spiritual struggles and need for redemption. 4. The Coming of the Messiah This event is foreshadowed in Isaiah's prophecies, pointing to Jesus Christ's ministry of compassion and justice. 5. Justice A central theme in this passage, referring to God's righteous order and the restoration of His people through the Messiah. Teaching Points Compassionate MinistryJesus exemplifies a ministry of compassion, reaching out to those who are weak and struggling. As His followers, we are called to emulate this compassion in our interactions with others. Hope for the Broken The imagery of the bruised reed and smoldering wick offers hope to those who feel weak or insignificant. God values and nurtures us, even in our brokenness. Faithful Justice God's justice is not harsh or destructive but is characterized by faithfulness and restoration. We are encouraged to trust in His righteous plans and seek justice in our own lives. Gentle Restoration The passage teaches us about the gentle nature of God's restoration. We should approach others with the same gentleness, aiming to restore rather than condemn. Endurance in Faith Just as a smoldering wick is not extinguished, our faith, even when weak, is precious to God. We are encouraged to persevere, knowing that God will sustain us.(3) A bruised reed shall he not break . . .--Physical, moral, spiritual weakness are all brought under the same similitude. In another context the image has met us in Isaiah 36:6. The simple negative "he shall not break" implies, as in the rhetoric of all times, the opposite extreme, the tender care that props and supports. The humanity of the servant of the Lord was to embody what had been already predicated of the Divine will (Psalm 51:17). The dimly burning flax, the wick of a lamp nearly out, He will foster and cherish and feed the spiritual life, all but extinguished, with oil till it burns brightly again. In Matthew 25:1-13 we have to deal with lamps that are going out, and these not even He could light again unless the bearers of the lamps "bought oil" for themselves. Judgment unto truth--i.e., according to the perfect standard of truth, with something of the sense of St. John's "true" in the sense of representing the ideal (John 1:9; John 15:1). . . . Verse 3. - A bruised reed shall he not break. Egypt was compared to a "bruised reed" by Sennacherib (Isaiah 36:6), as being untrustworthy and destitute of physical strength; but here the image represents the weak and depressed in spirit, the lowly and dejected. Christ would deal tenderly with such, not violently. Smoking flax shall he not quench; rather, the wick which burns dimly (margin) he shall not quench. Where the flame of devotion burns at all, however feebly and dimly, Messiah will take care not to quench it. Rather he will tend it, and trim it, and give it fresh oil, and cause it to burn more brightly. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. But with all this tenderness, this "economy," this allowance for the shortcomings and weaknesses of individuals, he will be uncompromising in his assertion of absolute justice and absolute truth. He will sanction nothing short of the very highest standard of moral purity and excellence. (For an instance of the combination of extreme tenderness with unswerving maintenance of an absolute standard, see John 8:8-11.)Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew A bruisedרָצוּץ֙ (rā·ṣūṣ) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular Strong's 7533: To crack in pieces reed קָנֶ֤ה (qā·neh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7070: A reed, a, rod, shaft, tube, stem, the radius, beam He will not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no break יִשְׁבּ֔וֹר (yiš·bō·wr) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces and a smoldering כֵהָ֖ה (ḵê·hāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 3544: Dim, dull, faint wick וּפִשְׁתָּ֥ה (ū·p̄iš·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6594: Flax, a wick He will not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no extinguish; יְכַבֶּ֑נָּה (yə·ḵab·ben·nāh) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 3518: To be quenched or extinguished, to go out He will faithfully לֶאֱמֶ֖ת (le·’ĕ·meṯ) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness bring forth יוֹצִ֥יא (yō·w·ṣî) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim justice. מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (miš·pāṭ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style Links Isaiah 42:3 NIVIsaiah 42:3 NLT Isaiah 42:3 ESV Isaiah 42:3 NASB Isaiah 42:3 KJV Isaiah 42:3 BibleApps.com Isaiah 42:3 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 42:3 Chinese Bible Isaiah 42:3 French Bible Isaiah 42:3 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 42:3 He won't break a bruised reed (Isa Isi Is) |
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