A.T. Robertson Commentary Matthew 12:20

"A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory." — Matthew 12:20 (ASV)

A bruised reed (καλαμον συντετριμμενον). Perfect passive participle of συντριβω. A crushed reed he will not break. The curious augment in κατεαξε (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" (λινον τυφομενον). The wick of a lamp, smoking and flickering and going out. Only here in N.T. Flax in Ex 9:31. Vivid images that picture Jesus in the same strain as his own great words in Mt 11:28-30.