Proverbs - 26:20

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  1. In-Depth
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20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Proverbs 26:20.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
Without wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, contention ceases.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

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.

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out,.... Or "woods" (h); 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 (i): men cease to quarrel one with another; they hold their peace and are silent, when there are none to bring tales from one to another, or any whisperer or backbiter to suggest evil things of each other; or when such are discouraged on both sides, and their tales are not listened to; or when they are detected and thrust out of doors, as they deserve, then strife subsides, and peace ensues. Contention is like a fire, the flame of which is blown up by talebearers and whisperers, who are as incendiaries, and as such are to be treated.
(h) "deficientibus lignis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "in deficientia lignorum", Michaelis; "quum expirarunt ligna", Schultens. (i) "silebit", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "silet", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "consilescit", Cocceius, Schultens.

Contention heats the spirit, and puts families and societies into a flame. And that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning by whisperers and backbiters.

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

There now follow proverbs regarding the nirgân, the slanderer (vid., regarding the formation and import of this word at Proverbs 26:28):
20 Where the wood faileth, the fire goeth out;
And where no tale-bearer, discord cometh to silence.
Wood, as material for building or for burning, is called, with the plur. of its product, עצים. Since אפס is the absolute end of a thing, and thus expresses its no longer existing, so it was more appropriate to wood (Fleischer: consumtis lignis) than to the tale-bearer, of whom the proverb says the same thing as Proverbs 22:10 says of the mocker.

*More commentary available at chapter level.

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