Matthew 12:19
in Matthew 12He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets.
KJV
He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
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This verse in Matthew 12
Commentary
7 notes on this verse(Verse 19.) Neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. For the way is broad and spacious that leads to destruction, and many enter through it (Mat. 7:13). Those who do not hear the voice of the Savior are many, because they are not on the narrow path, but on the spacious one.
This site's exposition
He shall not strive, nor cry
on Matthew 12:19-21
He shall not strive, nor cry describes exactly the manner just shown, withdrawal rather than public contention, and the bruised reed and smoking flax picture a ministry that does not finish off the weak or nearly spent. The bench reads these as the gentlest verses applied to the sternest week yet in the chapter, the same hand that will pronounce the unpardonable sin two verses later shown here as tender toward the bruised; the Gentiles trusting in his name closes the citation on the note the whole book will end on at 28:19.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
on Matthew 12:15-20
What does it mean that it is written in Matthew: 'A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench' (Matthew 12:20). For the explanation of this passage, the whole testimony that Matthew takes from the Prophet Isaiah must be set forth, even the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 42): according to the Septuagint interpreters and the Hebrew itself, to which Theodotus, Aquila, and Symmachus agree. Thus of the four Evangelists, only Matthew relates: "And Jesus knowing it, retired from thence: and many followed him, and he healed them all.
on Matthew 12:17-21
And it should be known, that the meaning not only of this passage, but of many others also, is supported by this testimony from the Prophet. The words, Behold my servant, may be referred to the place in which the Father had said above, This is my Son. (Mat. 3:17.) The words, I will put my Spirit upon him, is referred to the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Lord at His baptism; He shall declare judgment to the Gentiles, to that which He says below, When the Son of Man shall sit in the seat of his Majesty.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
on Matthew 12:19-20
Christ and his kingdom come not with observation, Luke xvii. When the First-begotten was brought into the world, it was not with state and ceremony; he made no public entry, had no harbingers to proclaim him King. He was in the world and the world knew him not.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He shall not strive, nor cry - The spirit of Christ is not a spirit of contention, murmuring, clamor, or litigiousness. He who loves these does not belong to him. Christ therefore fulfilled a prophecy by withdrawing from this place, on account of the rage of the Pharisees.
on Matthew 12:14-21
The first thing which demands our notice in this passage is the desperate wickedness of the human heart, which it exemplifies. Silenced and defeated by our Lord’s arguments, the Pharisees plunged deeper and deeper into sin. They “went out and held a council against Him how they might destroy Him.” What evil had our Lord done, that he should be so treated? None, none at all. No charge could be brought against his life. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; his days were spent in doing good. No charge could be brought against his teaching.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐκ | ouk | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐρίσει | erisei | will He quarrel | G2051 → | |
| οὐδὲ | oude | nor | G3761 → | 141 times |
| κραυγάσει, | kraugasei | will he cry out, | G2905 → | |
| οὐδὲ | oude | nor | G3761 → | 141 times |
| ἀκούσει | akousei | will hear | G191 → | 425 times |
| τις | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ταῖς | tais | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλατείαις | plateiais | streets | G4116 → | 10 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φωνὴν | phonen | voice | G5456 → | 139 times |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | of Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
οὐκNot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐρίσειwill He quarrel
eriseiG2051 →
οὐδὲnor
oudeG3761 →141 times
κραυγάσει,will he cry out,
kraugaseiG2905 →
οὐδὲnor
oudeG3761 →141 times
ἀκούσειwill hear
akouseiG191 →425 times
τιςanyone
tisG5100 →528 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ταῖςthe
taisG3588 →19766 times
πλατείαιςstreets
plateiaisG4116 →10 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
φωνὴνvoice
phonenG5456 →139 times
αὐτοῦ.of Him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 11:29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.…
- 1 John 2:6
Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
- Philippians 2:7–8
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- John 13:15
I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
- Luke 6:46–48
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?
- Jeremiah 6:16
Through
Zechariah 9:9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of…
it leads to
- Matthew 21:4–7
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
- Zephaniah 3:14–15
Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
- John 12:13–16
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
- Matthew 21:4–7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Matthew
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on Isaiah, on chapter 42; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; Jerome, Letter 121, Chapter 2; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Remigius of Rheims, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.