Proverbs 26:20-22 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 26:20-22

Contention is as a fire; it heats the spirit, burns up all that is good, and puts families and societies into a flame. Now here we are told how that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning, that we may avoid the occasions of strife and so prevent the mischievous consequences of it. If then we would keep the peace, 1. We must not give ear to talebearers, for they feed the fire of contention with fuel; nay, they spread it with combustible matter; the tales they carry are fireballs. Those who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:20

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out ,.... Or "woods" F8 באפס עצים "deficientibus lignis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "in deficientia lignorum", Michaelis; "quum expirarunt ligna", Schultens. ; where there is a large quantity of wood or fuel, the fire is kept up; but where there is little, scarce any or none at all, it goes out of course; So where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth ; or is silent F9 ישתק "silebit", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:21

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" F11 איש מדונים "vir contentionum", Montanus, Baynus, Piscator, Gejerus. ; who is given to it, is full of it; it is agreeable to his natural temper and disposition; he is in his element when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:22

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. These expressions are the same with those in Proverbs 18:8 ; and are here repeated, as being found along with others by the men of Hezekiah, Proverbs 25:1 ; as some others likewise are; and also because of the importance of them; and to impress the minds of men with a sense of the evil of such a practice, that they may shun it, and avoid those that are given to it. See Gill on Proverbs... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:20

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out - The tale-receiver and the tale-bearer are the agents of discord. If none received the slander in the first instance, it could not be propagated. Hence our proverb, "The receiver is as bad as the thief." And our laws treat them equally; for the receiver of stolen goods, knowing them to be stolen, is hanged, as well as he who stole them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:22

The words of a tale-bearer - The same with Proverbs 18:8 ; (note), where see the note. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:17-28

A series of proverbs connected more or less with peacefulness and its opposite. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:20

Some proverbs follow concerning the slanderer. Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out. Where the wood fails, and that was the only fuel then used, the fire must go out. So where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth; comes to silence ( Proverbs 22:10 ). (For nirgan ," whisper," see on Proverbs 16:28 .) Septuagint, "With much wood fire groweth, but where there is not one discordant ( δίθυμος ), strife is at rest." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:20

The fuel of strife I. STRIFE WILL DIE OUT IF IT BE NOT SUPPLIED WITH FRESH FUEL . The fire will not burn after the stock of wood is all exhausted. The quarrel will not continue if the angry feelings that rage in it are not fed by fresh provocations. The unhappy experience of most quarrels is that these provocations are too readily supplied. But if one party to a quarrel really wishes for peace, he can often obtain it by simply abstaining from maintaining his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:20-28

Spite, cunning, and deceit I. THE TALE BEARER AND MISCHIEF MAKER . ( Proverbs 26:20-22 .) 1 . His inflammatory character . ( Proverbs 26:20 , Proverbs 26:21 .) He keeps alive quarrels which, but for his vice, would die down for want of fuel. It is easy to fire the imagination with tales of evil, not so easy to quench the flames thus kindled. If the character is odious, let us beware of countenancing it by opening our ears to scandal. Personal gossip has in our day... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 26:20-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:17-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:20-28

Group of Brands