Isaiah 42:3-4

42:3 A crushed reed he will not break,

a dim wick he will not extinguish;

he will faithfully make just decrees.

42:4 He will not grow dim or be crushed

before establishing justice on the earth;

the coastlands will wait in anticipation for his decrees.”


sn The “crushed reed” and “dim wick” symbolize the weak and oppressed who are on the verge of extinction.

tn Heb “faithfully he will bring out justice” (cf. NASB, NRSV).

tn For rhetorical effect the terms used to describe the “crushed (רָצַץ, ratsats) reed” and “dim (כָּהָה, kahah) wick” in v. 3 are repeated here.

tn Or “islands” (NIV); NLT “distant lands beyond the sea.”

tn Or “his law” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV) or “his instruction” (NLT).