Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 26:21
[As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
21. kindle ] Better, inflame, R.V.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Coals – Charcoal.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Heb. A man of contentions, that loveth and giveth him self up to contentions.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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.
k “vir contentionum”, Montanus, Baynus, Piscator, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
21 Black coal to burning coal, and wood to fire;
And a contentious man to stir up strife.
The Venet. translates by , and by ; the former (from , Arab. fahuma , to be deep black) is coal in itself; the latter (from , jaham , to set on fire, and intrans. to burn), coal in a glowing state ( e.g., Pro 25:22; Eze 1:13). Black coal is suited to glowing coal, to nourish it; and wood to the fire, to sustain it; and a contentious man is suited for and serves this purpose, to kindle up strife. signifies to be hot, and the Pilpel , to heat, i.e., to make hot or hotter. The three – coal, wood, and the contentious man – are alike, in that they are a means to an end.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
21. As coals Charcoal. The sentiment in these two verses is similar, but not identical, that is represented in two different ways.
A contentious man One who is fault-finding, irritating, and consequently vexatious.
Strife ceaseth Goes out; it is kindled, fanned up, and kept burning by a man of contention one fond of strife. Compare Pro 15:18; Pro 16:28; Pro 21:9; Pro 22:10; Pro 27:15.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 26:21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
Ver. 21. So is a contentious man. ] Heb., A man of contentions, Vir biliosus et bellicosus; a man made up of discords, as Democritus said the world was – that loves to live in the fire, as the salamander doth; the dog days continue with such all the year long, and, like mad dogs, they bite and set a-madding all they can fasten on, as did Sheba, Korah, and Judas, who set all the disciples murmuring at the oil poured on Christ’s head. So Arius set all the Christian world on a light fire, and Pope Hildebrand cast abroad his firebrands.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 10:12, Pro 15:18, Pro 29:22, Pro 30:33, 2Sa 20:1, 1Ki 12:2, 1Ki 12:3, 1Ki 12:20, Psa 120:4
Reciprocal: Pro 17:14 – beginning Pro 22:10 – General Jam 3:6 – the tongue