Proverbs 26:21

Proverbs 26:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
• New International Version (NIV)As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
• English Standard Version (ESV)As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Context of Proverbs 26:21

19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” 20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. 23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

Proverbs 26:21 word by word

פֶּחָ֣ם לְ֭גֶחָלִים וְעֵצִ֣ים לְאֵ֑שׁ וְאִ֥ישׁ מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים לְחַרְחַר־רִֽיב׃ פRead the interlinear

• Like charcoalפֶּחָםpechâm · coalH6352
• for embersגַּחֶ֫לֶתgechel gacheleth · coalH1513
• and woodעֵץ‛êts · tree: woodH6086
• for fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• so is a quarrelsomeמָדוֹןmâdôn · strifeH4066
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• for kindlingחָרַרchârar · to scorchH2787
• strifeרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379

Cross-references for Proverbs 26:21

• Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
• Proverbs 15:18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
• Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
• Ezekiel 22:9Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.

Commentaries on Proverbs 26:21

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Coals - Charcoal.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-22Verses 20-22 Contention heats the spirit, and puts families and societies into a flame. And that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning by whisperers and backbiters.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21A gossip and a quarrelsome person both add fuel to the fire of trouble and conflict.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. The talebearers foster (Pr 16:28), and the contentious excite, strife.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 26:21

• Speaking
• Strife
• Talebearer

In the dictionaries

• Causeless
• Coal
• Conceit
• Kindle
• Render
• Seemly
• Sport
• Talebearer
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings