Proverbs 26:21

NET ©

Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person 1  to kindle strife. 2 

NIV ©

As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

NASB ©

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

NLT ©

A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

MSG ©

A quarrelsome person in a dispute is like kerosene thrown on a fire.

BBE ©

Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.

NRSV ©

As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

NKJV ©

As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

KJV
[As] coals
<06352>
[are] to burning coals
<01513>_,
and wood
<06086>
to fire
<0784>_;
so [is] a contentious
<04079> (8675) <04066>
man
<0376>
to kindle
<02787> (8771)
strife
<07379>_.
HEBREW
P
byr
<07379>
rxrxl
<02787>
*Mynydm {Mynwdm}
<04066>
syaw
<0376>
sal
<0784>
Myuew
<06086>
Mylxgl
<01513>
Mxp (26:21)
<06352>
LXXM
(33:21) escara
 
N-NSF
anyraxin
<440>  
N-DPM
kai
<2532>  
CONJ
xula
<3586>  
N-NPN
puri
<4442>  
N-DSN
anhr
<435>  
N-NSM
de
<1161>  
PRT
loidorov
<3060>  
A-NSM
eiv
<1519>  
PREP
tarachn
<5016>  
N-ASF
machv
<3163>  
N-GSF
NET © [draft] ITL
Like charcoal
<06352>
is to burning coals
<01513>
, and wood
<06086>
to fire
<0784>
, so is a contentious
<04066>
person
<0376>
to kindle
<02787>
strife
<07379>
.
NET © Notes

1 sn Heb “a man of contentions”; NCV, NRSV, NLT “a quarrelsome person.” The expression focuses on the person who is contentious by nature. His quarreling is like piling fuel on a fire that would otherwise go out. This kind of person not only starts strife, but keeps it going.

2 tn The Pilpel infinitive construct לְחַרְחַר (lÿkharkhar) from חָרַר (kharar, “to be hot; to be scorched; to burn”) means “to kindle; to cause to flare up.”