Proverbs 26:21
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, 1 so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. 1
Unlocked Literal Bible
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
20For lack of wood, the fire goes out; 1 and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases. 1
22The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; 1 they go down into the inner parts of the body. 1
Cross References
2 Samuel 20:1There also happened to be at the same place a troublemaker whose name was Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite. He blew the trumpet and said, “We have no part in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse. Let every man go back to his home, Israel.”
1 Kings 12:20It happened that when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to their assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed the family of David, except only the tribe of Judah.
Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up conflicts, 1 but love covers over all offenses. 1
Proverbs 29:22An angry person stirs up strife 1 and a master of rage commits many sins. 1
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 →