Proverbs 26:21 Meaning and Explanation
“As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A contentious person ignites strife as easily as coals kindle burning coals or wood feeds fire.
The Context of Proverbs 26:21
The focus moves from the talebearer who spreads conflict to the contentious person who generates and intensifies it.
What Does Proverbs 26:21 Mean?
Some things fuel themselves. Hot coals ignite other coals; wood feeds an existing fire, making it burn hotter. A contentious person functions the same way in a community. He does not merely participate in conflict; he actively kindles it, turning small disagreements into large ones.
This person has made quarrelling his nature. He cannot encounter discord without intensifying it. Like embers seeking other fuel, his contentious spirit seeks occasions to provoke. Where he goes, strife grows—not by accident but by his deliberate nature.
Proverbs 26:21 in the Original Language
ish midyanim (אִישׁ מְדָנִים), 'contentious man'—literally 'man of strifes,' suggesting someone characterized by quarrelling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 26:21
What does Proverbs 26:21 mean?
A contentious person ignites strife as easily as coals kindle burning coals or wood feeds fire.
What is the context of Proverbs 26:21?
The focus moves from the talebearer who spreads conflict to the contentious person who generates and intensifies it.