Proverbs 26:21

21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

Proverbs 26:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:21

As coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire
As brands, wood half burnt, or dead coals put to live and burning ones, soon take fire and become like them, and fit and proper fuel for them, and add to their heat: so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife;
or "a man of contentions" {k}; who is given to it, is full of it; it is agreeable to his natural temper and disposition; he is in his element when at it; such a man is as fuel to the fire, as a dead coal to a living one, which increases the heat of it; so does he, he kindles and spreads the flame of contention and strife.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (Mynwdm vya) "vir contentionum", Montanus, Baynus, Piscator, Gejerus.

Proverbs 26:21 In-Context

19 So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?'

20 Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,

21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

22 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.