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Proverbs 26:20

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— When there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no troublesome person, the strife ceases.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Where no 657
{0657} Prime
אֶפֶס
'ephec
{eh'-fes}
From H0656; cessation, that is, an end (especially of the earth); often used adverbially no further; also (like H6466) the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or foot.
wood 6086
{6086} Prime
עֵץ
`ets
{ates}
From H6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence wood (plural sticks).
is, [there] the fire 784
{0784} Prime
אֵשׁ
'esh
{aysh}
A primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively).
goeth out: 3518
{3518} Prime
כָּבָה
kabah
{kaw-baw'}
A primitive root; to expire or (causatively) to extinguish (fire, light, anger).
z8799
<8799> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885
so where [there is] no x369
(0369) Complement
אַיִן
'ayin
{ah'-yin}
As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.
talebearer, 5372
{5372} Prime
נִרְגָן
nirgan
{neer-gawn'}
From an unused root meaning to roll to pieces; a slanderer.
the strife 4066
{4066} Prime
מָדוֹן
madown
{maw-dohn'}
From H1777; a contest or quarrel.
ceaseth. 8367
{8367} Prime
שָׁתַק
shathaq
{shaw-thak'}
A primitive root; to subside.
z8799
<8799> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Proverbs 26:20-21

_ _ The talebearers foster (Proverbs 16:28), and the contentious excite, strife.

Matthew Henry's 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 by insinuating base characters, revealing secrets, and misrepresenting words and actions, do what they can to make relations, friends, and neighbours, jealous one of another, to alienate them one from another, and sow discord among them, are to be banished out of families and all societies, and then strife will as surely cease as the fire will go out when it has no fuel; the contenders will better understand one another and come to a better temper; old stories will soon be forgotten when there are no new ones told to keep up the remembrance of them, and both sides will see how they have been imposed upon by a common enemy. Whisperers and backbiters are incendiaries not to be suffered. To illustrate this, he repeats (Proverbs 26:22) what he had said before (Proverbs 18:8), that the words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, deep and dangerous wounds, wounds in the vitals. They wound the reputation of him who is belied, and perhaps the wound proves incurable, and even the plaster of a recantation (which yet can seldom be obtained) may not prove wide enough for it. They wound the love and charity which he to whom they are spoken ought to have for his neighbour and give a fatal stab to friendship and Christian fellowship. We must therefore not only not be tale-bearers ourselves at any time, nor ever do any ill offices, but we should not give the least countenance to those that are. 2. We must not associate with peevish passionate people, that are exceptions, and apt to put the worst constructions upon everything, that pick quarrels upon the least occasion, and are quick, and high, and hot, in resenting affronts. These are contentious men, that kindle strife, Proverbs 26:21. The less we have to do with such the better, for it will be very difficult to avoid quarrelling with those that are quarrelsome.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

[[no comment]]

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

[[no comment]]

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
Where no wood is:
Heb. Without wood

so:

Proverbs 26:22 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Proverbs 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
James 3:6 And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

talebearer:
or, whisperer

ceaseth:
Heb. is silent
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Pv 16:28; 22:10; 26:22. Jm 3:6.

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