In the book by Richard Sibbes entitled The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax he bases his discussion on certain key Scripture. Within such Scripture are certain “Key Words” worthy of deeper study, and reflection.
Collected here in the respective Greek and Hebrew word sections, respective to the NT and OT, are study resources on such Key Words. Most, if not nearly all, of the below comes from resources in Logos Bible Software (S/W).
Key Words, Broad Background
REED
A tall plant with a hollow stem that grows in marshes (Psa 68:30; Isa 19:6). Often used as a measuring rod or staff (e.g., Isa 36:6; Ezek 29:6; 40:3).
Key Passages of REED
Ex 2:3–4
When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.
1 Ki 14:15
the Lord will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and root up Israel out of this good land that he gave to their fathers and scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the Lord to anger.
2 Ki 18:21
Behold, you are trusting now in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Job 40:21
Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
Ps 68:30
Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
Is 19:6–7
and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt’s Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away. There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more.
OT Hebrew Key Words
BRUISED
7533 רָצַץ [ratsats /raw·tsats/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 2212; GK 8368; 19 occurrences; AV translates as “oppressed” six times, “broken” four times, “break” three times, “bruised” twice, “crush” twice, “discouraged” once, and “struggle together” once. 1 to crush, oppress. 1a (Qal). 1a1 to crush, get crushed, be crushed. 1a2 to crush, oppress (fig). 1a3crushed (participle passive). 1b (Niphal) to be crushed, be broken. 1c (Piel). 1c1 to crush in pieces. 1c2 to grievously oppress (fig). 1d (Poel) to oppress (fig). 1e (Hiphil) to crush. 1f (Hithpoel) to crush each other.
Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
REED
Strong’s H7070 קָנֶה [qaneh /kaw·neh/] n m. From 7069; TWOT 2040a; GK 7866; 62 occurrences; AV translates as “reed” 28 times, “branch” 24 times, “calamus” three times, “cane” twice, “stalk” twice, “balance” once, “bone” once, and “spearmen” once. 1 reed, stalk, bone, balances. 1a stalk. 1b water-plant, reed. 1c calamus (aromatic reed). 1d derived meanings. 1d1 measuring-rod. 1d2 reed (as unit of measure—6 cubits). 1d3 beam (of scales—for scales themselves). 1d4shaft (of lampstand). 1d5 branches (of lampstand). 1d6 shoulder-joint.
Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
OT Koine Greek (Septuagint, LXX) Key Words
NT Koine Greek Key Words
BRUISED
Strong’s G4937. συντρίβω suntríbō; fut. suntrípsō, from sún (4862), together or an intensive, and tríbō (5147), to break, rub. To break, strike against something, crush together, or break in pieces.
- (I) Particularly (Mark 5:4; 14:3; John 19:36; Rev. 2:27; Sept.: Ex. 12:46; Lev. 6:28; 26:13). Of a reed, to break so as to have a flaw or crack (Matt. 12:20, “a crushed reed shall he not break off” [a.t.] quoted from Is. 42:3).
- (II) Figuratively, to break the strength or power of someone, to crush, weaken, with the acc. (Luke 9:39, weakens him, breaks him down [cf. Mark 9:18 where the word is xēraínetai {3583}, dries up]). Of Satan, to break or crush his power (Rom. 16:20; Sept.: Josh. 10:10; Amos 3:15). In the pass. (Luke 4:18, “the brokenhearted” [cf. Sept.: Ps. 34:19; 51:19]).
- Deriv.: súntrimma (4938), a breaking to pieces, a broken piece.
- Syn.: sunthláō (4917), to break in pieces; sunthrúptō (4919), to weaken, break one’s heart; thraúō (2352), to shatter, bruise.
- Ant.: katartízō (2675), to mend, restore; sunarmologéō (4883), to fit together; apokathístēmi or apokathistánō(600), to restore.
- Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.
Verb Usage BRUISED: συντρίβω (syntribō), vb. shatter; smash; crush. fut.act. συντρίψω; aor.act. συνέτριψα; aor.pass. συνετρίβην. Hebrew equivalent: שׁבר 1 (63).
- to be broken† — to be or become separated into pieces or fragments. Related Topics: Destruction; Fragments; Break. Jn 19:36 Ὀστοῦν οὐ συντριβήσεται αὐτοῦ.
- to be shattered† — to be broken into many pieces. Related Topic: Break. Mk 5:4 καὶ τὰς πέδας συντετρῖφθαι,
- to be shattered (state)† — to be or become broken into many pieces. Re 2:27 ὡς τὰ σκεύη τὰ κεραμικὰ συντρίβεται,
- to overcome ⇔ crush† — to utterly defeat, conceived as breaking one’s opponent into small pieces. Related Topics: Conqueror; Conquer. Lk 9:39 καὶ μόγις ἀποχωρεῖ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ συντρῖβον αὐτόν· Ro 16:20 ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης συντρίψει τὸν Σατανᾶν ὑπὸ τοὺς
- to be crushed (state)† — to be or become compressed out of natural shape or condition. Related Topic: Break. Mt 12:20 κάλαμον συντετριμμένον. Mk 14:3 συντρίψασα τὴν ἀλάβαστρον
Septuagint References Ex 12:10; Ex 12:46; Ps 2:9; Ps 33:19; Ps 33:21; Ps 50:19; Ps 146:3; Job 38:11; Is 42:3; Is 57:15; Is 61:1
REED
2563. κάλαμος kálamos; gen. kalámou, masc. noun. Flexible stalk or stem of a vegetable, hence the stalk of corn. The plant itself, a reed which is easily bent or shaken by the wind (Matt. 11:7; 12:20; “a bruised [crushed] reed,” quoted from Is. 42:3; Luke 7:24; Sept.: 1 Kgs. 14:15; Job 40:21), the stalk as cut for use, a reed, i.e., as a mock scepter (Matt. 27:29, 30; Mark 15:36). A stalk or stem of hyssop (Matt. 27:48; Mark 15:19 [cf. John 19:29]). A measuring reed or stick (Rev. 11:1; 21:15, 16; Sept.: Ezek. 40:3, 5, 6). A reed for writing, a quill (3 John 1:13; Sept.: Ps. 44:1).
● Syn.: rhábdos (4464), rod, staff, stick; kalámē (2562), stubble, straw.
● Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.