John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 12:20 - 12:20

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John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 12:20 - 12:20


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Mat 12:20. Κάλαμον, a reed) In Hebrew קנה.[563] Jerome ad. Algasiam,[564] quæJames 2, interprets the bruised reed of Israel; and the smoking flax, of the people congregated from the Gentiles, who, the fire of the natural law being extinguished, were enveloped in the errors of a most bitter smoke, which is hurtful to the eyes, and of a thick darkness. Whom He not only forbore to extinguish and reduce to ashes, but also, on the contrary, from the spark, which was small and all but dying, aroused great flames, so that the whole world should burn with that fire of our Lord and Saviour which He came to send upon earth, and desires to kindle in the hearts of all.-οὐ κατεάξει, οὐ σβέσει, shall He not break, shall He not quench) An instance of Litotes for “He shall especially cherish.” Cf. Mat 12:7, ch. Mat 11:28; Isa 42:3; Isa 61:1-3.-ἐκβάλῃ, send forth, extend) In the Hebrew יוציא and ישים. In the S. V. both verbs[565] are commonly rendered by ἘΚΒΆΛΛΕΙΝ, to extend.-εἰς νῖκος, unto victory) The LXX. frequently render קנצח (for ever) by εἰς νῖκος, which is the force of the phrase in this passage; i.e. so that nothing may resist them for ever.

[563] קנה, a reed-evidently the original of the word cane, which has found its way, I believe, into every European language. Gr. κάννα, κάννη or κάνη. Lat. Canna; Fr. Cane; Span. Cana; Port. Cana or Canna. Cf. also the German Kaneie.-(I. B.)

[564] An epistle written by St Jerome to an Eastern lady of the name of Algasia, who had propounded twelve questions to him. He begins by a quaint and courteous proemium, in which he fancifully compares her to the Queen of Sheba, and then proceeds to answer her questions in order.-(I. B.)

[565] Sc. הו̇צִיא the Hiphil of יָצָֽא, and שֽׂוּם. Bengel does not mean to say that the LXX. render them so in this passage (which is not the case with either of them), but that they do so elsewhere; and, consequently, that St Matthew is justified in doing so here.-(I. B.)