"{As} coals {are} to burning coals, and wood to fire; so {is} a contentious man to kindle strife." — Proverbs 26:21

Proverbs 26:21 · KJV

“{As} coals {are} to burning coals, and wood to fire; so {is} a contentious man to kindle strife.”

— Proverbs 26:21

Where no wood is, {there} the fire goeth out: so where {there is} no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. {Where no...: Heb. Without wood} {talebearer: or, whisperer} {ceaseth: Heb. is silent}

Verse 22

The words of a talebearer {are} as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. {innermost...: Heb. chambers}

Proverbs 26 — Context

So {is} the man {that} deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Where no wood is, {there} the fire goeth out: so where {there is} no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. {Where no...: Heb. Without wood} {talebearer: or, whisperer} {ceaseth: Heb. is silent}

{As} coals {are} to burning coals, and wood to fire; so {is} a contentious man to kindle strife.

The words of a talebearer {are} as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. {innermost...: Heb. chambers}

Burning lips and a wicked heart {are like} a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Cross References

Proverbs 15:18

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but {he that is} slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Proverbs 29:22

An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

2 Samuel 20:1

And 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.

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

1 Kings 12:2-3

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard {of it}, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)

Proverbs 30:33

Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Psalms 120:4

Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. {Sharp...: or, It is as the sharp arrows of the mighty man, with coals of juniper}

1 Kings 12:20

And 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.