Proverbs 26:21 - As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
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What does "Proverbs 26:21" mean?
Proverbs 26:21 uses a vivid analogy to explain how a contentious person fuels conflict. Let's break it down:
"As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire...": This establishes a physical comparison. Coals keep embers burning hot, and wood provides the fuel for a fire to grow and rage. Without these elements, the embers would die down, and the fire would extinguish.
"...so is a contentious man to kindling strife.": This connects the physical analogy to human behavior. A "contentious man" is someone who is argumentative, quarrelsome, and eager to disagree or provoke conflict. Just as coals feed embers and wood feeds fire, a contentious person provides the fuel for arguments and disagreements to escalate into full-blown strife (bitter conflict or struggle).
In simpler terms:
The verse is saying that a person who loves to argue and stir up trouble acts like fuel for a fire. They keep the conflict going and make it worse. Their presence and actions encourage and intensify disagreements, preventing them from resolving peacefully.
The lesson:
Avoid contentious people and avoid being contentious yourself. If you want to foster peace and harmony, don't add fuel to the fire of conflict. Strive for understanding and resolution rather than argument and disagreement. A contentious person is a catalyst for discord and can easily turn minor issues into major battles.
Proverbs 26:21 - As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
What does "Proverbs 26:21" mean?
Proverbs 26:21 uses a vivid analogy to explain how a contentious person fuels conflict. Let's break it down:
"As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire...": This establishes a physical comparison. Coals keep embers burning hot, and wood provides the fuel for a fire to grow and rage. Without these elements, the embers would die down, and the fire would extinguish.
"...so is a contentious man to kindling strife.": This connects the physical analogy to human behavior. A "contentious man" is someone who is argumentative, quarrelsome, and eager to disagree or provoke conflict. Just as coals feed embers and wood feeds fire, a contentious person provides the fuel for arguments and disagreements to escalate into full-blown strife (bitter conflict or struggle).
In simpler terms:
The verse is saying that a person who loves to argue and stir up trouble acts like fuel for a fire. They keep the conflict going and make it worse. Their presence and actions encourage and intensify disagreements, preventing them from resolving peacefully.
The lesson:
Avoid contentious people and avoid being contentious yourself. If you want to foster peace and harmony, don't add fuel to the fire of conflict. Strive for understanding and resolution rather than argument and disagreement. A contentious person is a catalyst for discord and can easily turn minor issues into major battles.