Proverbs 26:20 kjv

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Proverbs 26:20 nkjv

Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

Proverbs 26:20 niv

Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

Proverbs 26:20 esv

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

Proverbs 26:20 nlt

Fire goes out without wood,
and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

Proverbs 26 verses

Proverbs 26 20 Meaning

Proverbs 26:20 conveys that just as fire requires wood to burn and will naturally extinguish when its fuel supply is removed, so too does conflict, strife, and contention cease when the source of malicious gossip, slander, or whispering is removed. It highlights the direct link between the presence of a divisive individual and ongoing discord.

Proverbs 26 20 Context

Proverbs 26 is part of the "Sayings of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied" (Prov 25:1). This chapter focuses on describing and critiquing various undesirable character types, including fools, sluggards, busybodies, and deceivers. The sayings often use vivid analogies from nature or common experience to illustrate spiritual and social truths. In ancient Israelite society, community and family cohesion were paramount. Speech had immense power to build up or tear down relationships, making the role of the "talebearer" (or slanderer/whisperer) a significant threat to communal peace and order. This verse functions as a practical proverb, revealing the mechanism by which strife operates and offering a direct solution: remove the instigator, and the conflict dies. There isn't a direct polemic against a specific contemporary belief, but rather an implicit endorsement of honest, truthful speech and a condemnation of deceitful, divisive communication, which was often contrasted with divine wisdom and righteousness.

Proverbs 26 20 Word analysis

• Where there is no wood (בְּאֵין עֵצִים - b'eyn 'eitzim):
  • Wood (עֵצִים - 'eitzim): Refers to trees, timber, or firewood. Here, specifically, it means fuel.
  • Significance: It serves as the primary, visible fuel for fire. Without it, the fire's existence is unsustainable. This forms the bedrock of the proverb's powerful analogy.
• the fire goes out (תִּכְבֶּה אֵשׁ - tikhbeh 'esh):
  • Goes out (תִּכְבֶּה - tikhbeh): Meaning "is quenched," "extinguished," "dies down."
  • Fire (אֵשׁ - 'esh): Here, the metaphor for conflict, argument, strife, or passion.
  • Significance: It vividly portrays the inevitable cessation of an activity (fire) when its sustaining element (fuel) is absent. This natural law is directly applied to human conflict.
• and where there is no talebearer (וְאֵין נִרְגָּן - v'eyn nirgan):
  • Talebearer (נִרְגָּן - nirgan): This is a crucial Hebrew term. It's often translated as "whisperer," "slanderer," "backbiter," or "gossip." The root (רגן - ragan) means "to murmur," "grumble," or "whisper." A nirgan is someone who habitually whispers or murmurs malicious reports, often secretly spreading discord, revealing secrets, or inventing falsehoods.
  • Significance: This individual is identified as the direct fuel for human contention. Their whispers, rumors, and slanders fan the flames of dispute. The term nirgan suggests a secretive and often underhanded way of sowing discord.
• contention ceases (יִשְׁתֹּק מָדוֹן - yishtok madon):
  • Ceases (יִשְׁתֹּק - yishtok): From the root שׁתק (shaqaq), meaning "to be silent," "quiet," "still," or "come to a halt." It signifies an end or a silencing.
  • Contention (מָדוֹן - madon): Signifies "strife," "quarrel," "dispute," "argument."
  • Significance: This is the direct parallel to "the fire goes out." When the source (talebearer) is removed, the contention automatically stops, indicating a strong cause-and-effect relationship.

Words-group analysis:

• "Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, contention ceases."
  • This is a masterful example of a synthetic parallelism common in Proverbs. The first part ("no wood, fire goes out") sets up a concrete, universally understood natural phenomenon. The second part ("no talebearer, contention ceases") applies this physical principle to the social and ethical realm, explaining how human conflict operates.
  • The analogy powerfully underscores the destructive nature of unchecked speech and the deliberate role a "talebearer" plays in instigating or sustaining conflict. By equating gossip/slander with the fuel of a fire, the proverb illustrates how divisive words are not passive but active agents in generating heat and destruction within relationships and communities. The implied wisdom is not just to avoid being such a person, but also to recognize and deal with the source of contention when it arises.

Proverbs 26 20 Bonus section

The proverb implies a dual responsibility: on the part of the nirgan not to engage in such destructive speech, and on the part of the community to identify and potentially disengage from such individuals. It is not only about the speaker but also about the listeners and the environment that allows gossip to flourish. If there is no audience, the "wood" might remain, but it cannot feed the "fire" of contention. The "talebearer" is an active agent, but a silent and unresponsive listener can starve the destructive process, demonstrating that managing conflict involves both proactive avoidance of divisive speech and reactive discernment when faced with it.

Proverbs 26 20 Commentary

Proverbs 26:20 presents a clear and timeless truth about the origins and cessation of conflict: Remove the source, and the problem dissipates. The physical analogy of fire needing fuel perfectly illustrates how contention thrives on the input of talebearers or gossips. These individuals are not just innocent purveyors of information; they actively fan the flames of discord through whispered words, malicious rumors, or secret revelations, intentionally or unintentionally causing divisions. When such an instigator or source of "fuel" is absent, the arguments, misunderstandings, and general strife that they create naturally quiet down. This verse urges believers to be aware of the corrosive power of the tongue and the destructive impact of divisive speech within communities, families, and even nations. It calls for wisdom in discerning and dealing with the purveyors of conflict, understanding that silence or removal of the talebearer is often the direct path to peace. Practically, this means avoiding involvement in gossip chains, refraining from repeating unverified or negative information, and disengaging from those who seek to stir up trouble through their words.