Proverbs 26:21

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

[ As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

פֶּחָ֣ם לְ֭גֶחָלִים וְעֵצִ֣ים לְאֵ֑שׁ וְאִ֥ישׁ *מדונים **מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים לְחַרְחַר־רִֽיב׃

Transliteration

Peḥam to-geḥalim and-etzim to-esh, and-ish midyanim to-ḥarḥar-riv.

Grammar Details

*peḥam*: noun, masculine, singular - charcoal
*le*: preposition - to
*geḥalim*: noun, masculine, plural - coals
*ve*: conjunction - and
*etzim*: noun, masculine, plural - wood/trees
*esh*: noun, feminine, singular - fire
*ish*: noun, masculine, singular - man
*midyanim*: noun, masculine, plural - contentions/strifes
*ḥarḥar*: verb, Pilpel infinitive construct - to kindle/inflame
*riv*: noun, masculine, singular - dispute/quarrel

Word Meanings

*peḥam*: charcoal/coal
*geḥalim*: coals/burning coals
*etzim*: wood/timber
*esh*: fire
*ish*: man/person
*midyanim*: contentions/strifes/quarrels
*ḥarḥar*: to kindle/to inflame/to stir up
*riv*: dispute/quarrel/strife

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 15:18 : 18 A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Prov 29:22 : 22 An angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in transgression.
Prov 30:33 : 33 For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
2 Sam 20:1 : 1 And there happened to be there a base fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew the trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
1 Kgs 12:2-3 : 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt, 3 and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
1 Kgs 12:20 : 20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, 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.
Ps 120:4 : 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of juniper.
Prov 10:12 : 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 26:17-20
4 verses
85%
17He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
20For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
Prov 15:18
76%
18A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Prov 29:22
75%
22An angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in transgression.
Prov 26:22-23
2 verses
75%
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
23Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Prov 16:27-29
3 verses
75%
27A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
28A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.
Prov 17:14
74%
14The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
Job 41:21
72%
21His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth.
Prov 6:27-28
2 verses
72%
27Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
28Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?
Isa 9:18
71%
18For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
Ps 83:14
70%
14As the fire that burneth the forest, And as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire,
Prov 27:15
70%
15A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike:
Prov 6:19
69%
19A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.
Isa 1:31
69%
31And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Prov 22:10
69%
10Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
Ps 140:10
68%
10Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise.
Prov 18:19
68%
19A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city; And [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Prov 25:22-23
2 verses
68%
22For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
23The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
Prov 18:6
68%
6A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
Prov 21:19
68%
19It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Prov 25:18
68%
18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Job 22:20
68%
20[ Saying], Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.
Prov 19:13
68%
13A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
Job 31:12
68%
12For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, And would root out all mine increase.
Prov 20:3
68%
3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
Prov 22:24
68%
24Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
Jas 3:5-6
2 verses
67%
5None So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
6And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members {G3779} is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
Prov 27:21
67%
21The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is [tried] by his praise.
Prov 6:14
67%
14In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.
Prov 17:19
67%
19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
Exod 22:6
67%
6If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
Prov 13:10
67%
10By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
Prov 29:9
67%
9If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.
Ps 120:4
67%
4Sharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of juniper.
Rom 12:20
67%
20But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
Eccl 10:9
67%
9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
Ps 18:8
67%
8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.