Isaiah 42:3-4

42:3 A crushed reed he will not break,

a dim wick he will not extinguish; ¹ 

he will faithfully make just decrees. ² 

42:4 He will not grow dim or be crushed ³ 

before establishing justice on the earth;

the coastlands ⁴  will wait in anticipation for his decrees.” ⁵ 

[42:3]  ¹ sn The “crushed reed” and “dim wick” symbolize the weak and oppressed who are on the verge of extinction.

[42:3]  ² tn Heb “faithfully he will bring out justice” (cf. NASB, NRSV).

[42:4]  ³ 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.

[42:4]  ⁴ tn Or “islands” (NIV); NLT “distant lands beyond the sea.”

[42:4]  ⁵ tn Or “his law” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV) or “his instruction” (NLT).