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 one who deceives his friend, and says, “I was only joking.” 20Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip quarrels cease. As coals are to embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindling strife. 22A gossip’s words are like tasty morsels— they slide down into the innermost parts of the body. 23Like silver glaze overlaying earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.

Proverbs 26:21 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• coalsפֶּחָםpechâm · coalH6352
• to burning coalsגַּחֶ֫לֶתgechel gacheleth · coalH1513
• and woodעֵץ‛êts · tree: woodH6086
• to fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• a contentiousמָדוֹןmâdôn · strifeH4066
• a contentiousמִדְיָןmidyân · contentionH4079
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• to kindleחָרַרchârar · to scorchH2787
• strifeרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379

Cross-references for Proverbs 26:21

• Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up strife but love covers up all transgressions.
• Proverbs 15:18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.
• Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirs up dissention, and a hotheaded one commits many transgressions.
• Ezekiel 22:9Slanderous men are in you in order to shed blood. They have eaten at the mountain shrines; they commit immoral acts in your midst.

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