Proverbs 26:21
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
Catholic Public Domain Version
In The King James Version
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
In Context
22The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
Cross References
2 Samuel 20:1And it happened that there was, in that place, a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a man of Benjamin. And he sounded the trumpet, and he said: “There is no portion for us in David, nor any inheritance in the son of Jesse. Return to your own tents, O Israel.”
1 Kings 12:20And it happened that, when all of Israel had heard that Jeroboam had returned, gathering an assembly, they sent and called him, and they appointed him as king over all of Israel. And no one followed the house of David, except the tribe of Judah alone.
Proverbs 10:12Hatred rises up from disputes. And charity covers all offenses.
Proverbs 29:22A short-tempered man provokes quarrels. And whoever is easily angered is more likely to sin.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:21-23
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Contention is as a fire; it heats the spirit, burns up all that is good, and puts families and societies into a flame. Now here we are told how that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning, that we may avoid the occasions… Read the whole commentary →