12:20a
A bruised reed He will not break: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, a person who is hurt in some way or who is spiritually weak is compared to A bruised reed. (See the explanation of A bruised reed below). Reeds were very common, and normally, people would throw away such a reed. But Jesus is compared to a person that will not break/bend the reed. This means that he will be gentle with such a person and help him. He will not hurt or damage him.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
He will not break off a bent reed (Good News Translation)
-or-
He will not break a crushed blade of grass (New Century Version)
-or-
He will not destroy a damaged reed
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
⌊Those who are weak like⌋ a bruised reed, he will not harm
-or-
⌊Anyone who is hurt like⌋ a bruised reed, he will help him
• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
He will not crush those who are weak (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
He will be gentle with those who are weak
bruised reed: Reeds are tall grasses that have long, hollow stems which can be easily crushed or broken. A bruised reed would be one that is damaged and almost broken off.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
bent/damaged reed
-or-
partially cut/broken piece of grass
12:20b
a smoldering wick He will not extinguish: This is a metaphor. The meaning of this metaphor is similar to the meaning of the metaphor in 12:20a. In this metaphor, a person who is hurt in some way or who is spiritually weak is compared to the wick of a lamp. This wick is smoking, but not burning with a bright flame. Normally, people would cut off such a wick and throw it away. But Jesus is compared to a person who will not quench the flame. This means that he will be gentle with such a person and help him. He will not hurt him.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
He will not even put out a smoking wick (God’s Word)
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
⌊A person who has many problems is like⌋ a smoldering wick. He will not extinguish it/him.
-or-
⌊Anyone who is hurt like⌋ a smoldering wick, he will not smother/harm him
• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
He will be gentle with anyone who is in pain.
-or-
He will encourage the person who has no hope.
a smoldering wick: A wick is the part of a lamp which burns. The phrase a smoldering wick refers to a wick which is burning red and smoking but without a flame.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
a smoking wick (God’s Word)
-or-
a weak flame (New Century Version)
not extinguish: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as extinguish refers to putting out a fire/flame.
Here is another way to translate this verb:
quench (English Standard Version)
12:20c
till: The servant will continue to be gentle (12:18d–20b) till he leads justice to victory. In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this explicit. For example:
⌊He will be like that⌋ until
-or-
⌊He will continue to be gentle⌋ until
This does not imply that after he brings justice to victory, he will no longer be gentle.
He leads justice to victory: This is a figure of speech. In this figure of speech, justice is talked about as if it were a person who wins a victory. Justice wins a battle with evil. Jesus is the person who makes this victory possible.
In other words, one day Jesus will establish justice. He will fairly judge and punish people who are evil, and he will fairly judge and reward people who are righteous. In this sense, he will cause justice to be victorious over evil.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
• Keep the figure of speech. For example:
he will cause justice to be victorious (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he makes justice win the victory (New Century Version)
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
he will make sure that justice is done (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he will be successful in causing everyone to receive what he deserves
-or-
until he causes all things to be done justly
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