Proverbs 26:21
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
King James Version
In Context
20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Cross References
2 Samuel 20:1And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
1 Kings 12:20And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
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 →