Reference: Coal
American
Usually in Scripture, charcoal, or the embers of fire. Mineral coal is now procured in mount Lebanon, eight hours from Beirut; but we have no certainty that it was known and used by the Jews. The following passages are those which most strongly suggest this substance, 2Sa 22:9,13; Job 41:21.
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Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and consuming fire out of his mouth, that coals were kindled of him.
Of the brightness, that was before him, coals were set on fire.
His breath maketh the coals burn, the flame goeth out of his mouth.
Easton
It is by no means certain that the Hebrews were acquainted with mineral coal, although it is found in Syria. Their common fuel was dried dung of animals and wood charcoal. Two different words are found in Hebrew to denote coal, both occurring in Pr 26:21, "As coal [Heb. peham; i.e., "black coal"] is to burning coal [Heb. gehalim]." The latter of these words is used in Job 41:21; Pr 6:28; Isa 44:19. The words "live coal" in Isa 6:6 are more correctly "glowing stone." In La 4:8 the expression "blacker than a coal" is literally rendered in the margin of the Revised Version "darker than blackness." "Coals of fire" (2Sa 22:9,13; Ps 18:8,12-13, etc.) is an expression used metaphorically for lightnings proceeding from God. A false tongue is compared to "coals of juniper" (Ps 120:4; Jas 3:6). "Heaping coals of fire on the head" symbolizes overcoming evil with good. The words of Paul (Ro 12:20) are equivalent to saying, "By charity and kindness thou shalt soften down his enmity as surely as heaping coals on the fire fuses the metal in the crucible."
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Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and consuming fire out of his mouth, that coals were kindled of him.
Of the brightness, that was before him, coals were set on fire.
His breath maketh the coals burn, the flame goeth out of his mouth.
There went a smoke out in his presence, and a consuming fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled at it. {TYNDALE: Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and consuming fire out of his mouth, that coals were kindled of him.}
At the brightness of his presence, his clouds removed hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: Of the brightness that was before him, coals were set on fire.} The LORD also thundered out of the heaven, and the highest gave his thunder, with hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most high put out his voice.}
Even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
Or can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be hurt?
Coals kindle heat, and wood the fire; even so doth a brawling fellow stir up variance.
Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a hot coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with the tongs,
They ponder not in their minds, for they have neither knowledge nor understanding, to think thus, "I have burnt one piece in the fire; I have baked bread with the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh withal, and eaten it: shall I now of the residue make an abomination, and fall down before a rotten piece of wood?"
{Khet} But now their faces are very black: Insomuch, that thou shouldest not know them in the streets. Their skin cleaveth to their bones; It is withered, and become like a dry stock.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
and the tongue is fire, and a world of wickedness. So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth afire all that we have of nature, and is itself set afire, even of hell.
Fausets
pecham, "a black coal," and gachelath, "burning coals." Pr 26:21; "as coals (fuel) are to burning coals," etc.; so we speak of quarrelsome men "adding fuel to the flame." "Coals of fire" in 2Sa 22:9,13, represent the lightning of God's wrath. In Pr 25:22, "heap coals of fire upon thine enemy's head" (Ro 12:20), the meaning is, melt him into burning shame at his own unworthy hatred, and love for thee who hast overcome his evil with thy good. Either he shall be like metals melted by fire or like clay hardened by it. In Ps 120:4 "coals of juniper" rather burning brands of broom, retamim. The Arabs regard the retem (broom) the best firewood.
As their slanders burnt like coals on fire, so, by righteous retribution in kind, God will give them hot coals. Ps 140:10; 18:12-13; compare the same image of the tongue, Jas 3:6. In 2Sa 14:7 "they shall quench my coal that is left," i.e., extinguish the only surviving light of my home, my only son. In Isa 6:6 and 1Ki 19:6 the "coals" are in the Hebrew (rezeph) hot stones, on which cakes were baked and flesh cooked. In Hab 3:5 (resheph) "burning coals" poetically and figuratively express "burning diseases," as the parallel "pestilence" shows; also compare De 32:24; Ps 91:6. In La 4:8 translate as margin darker than blackness." Mineral coal protrudes through the strata to the surface of parts of Lebanon, at Cornale, eight miles from Beirut, the coal seams are three feet thick; but it seems not to have been anciently known as fuel. Charcoal is what is meant by "coal."
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Burnt with hunger and consumed with heat and with bitter pestilence. I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, and poison serpents.
Burnt with hunger and consumed with heat and with bitter pestilence. I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, and poison serpents.
And behold, the whole kindred arose against thy handmaid and said, 'Deliver us him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the soul of his brother whom he slew: for he will destroy the heir also.' And so they shall quench my sparkle which is left that he shall stir up neither name or issue upon the earth unto my husband."
And behold, the whole kindred arose against thy handmaid and said, 'Deliver us him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the soul of his brother whom he slew: for he will destroy the heir also.' And so they shall quench my sparkle which is left that he shall stir up neither name or issue upon the earth unto my husband."
Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and consuming fire out of his mouth, that coals were kindled of him.
Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and consuming fire out of his mouth, that coals were kindled of him.
Of the brightness, that was before him, coals were set on fire.
Of the brightness, that was before him, coals were set on fire.
And he looked about him: and see, there was a loaf of broiled bread and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid him down again to sleep.
And he looked about him: and see, there was a loaf of broiled bread and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid him down again to sleep.
At the brightness of his presence, his clouds removed hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: Of the brightness that was before him, coals were set on fire.}
At the brightness of his presence, his clouds removed hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: Of the brightness that was before him, coals were set on fire.} The LORD also thundered out of the heaven, and the highest gave his thunder, with hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most high put out his voice.}
The LORD also thundered out of the heaven, and the highest gave his thunder, with hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most high put out his voice.}
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday.
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday.
Even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
Even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
Let hot burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, and into the pit, that they never rise up again.
Let hot burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, and into the pit, that they never rise up again.
For so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
For so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Coals kindle heat, and wood the fire; even so doth a brawling fellow stir up variance.
Coals kindle heat, and wood the fire; even so doth a brawling fellow stir up variance.
Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a hot coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with the tongs,
Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a hot coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with the tongs,
{Khet} But now their faces are very black: Insomuch, that thou shouldest not know them in the streets. Their skin cleaveth to their bones; It is withered, and become like a dry stock.
{Khet} But now their faces are very black: Insomuch, that thou shouldest not know them in the streets. Their skin cleaveth to their bones; It is withered, and become like a dry stock.
Destruction goeth before him, and burning cressettes go from his feet.
Destruction goeth before him, and burning cressettes go from his feet.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
and the tongue is fire, and a world of wickedness. So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth afire all that we have of nature, and is itself set afire, even of hell.
and the tongue is fire, and a world of wickedness. So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth afire all that we have of nature, and is itself set afire, even of hell.
Hastings
Mineral coal was unknown in Bible times. Wherever 'coal' (or 'coals') is mentioned, therefore, we must in the great majority of cases understand wood or charcoal. Several species of wood used for heating purposes are named in Isa 44:14-16, to which Ps 120:4 adds 'coals of broom' (Revised Version margin). In two cases, however, the 'live coal' of Isaiah's vision (Isa 6:6) and the 'coals' on which was 'a cake haken' for Elijah (1Ki 19:6), the Heb. word denotes a hot stone (so Revised Version margin
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And behold, the whole kindred arose against thy handmaid and said, 'Deliver us him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the soul of his brother whom he slew: for he will destroy the heir also.' And so they shall quench my sparkle which is left that he shall stir up neither name or issue upon the earth unto my husband."
And he looked about him: and see, there was a loaf of broiled bread and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid him down again to sleep.
Even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
The light of the righteous maketh joyful; but the candle of the ungodly shall be put out.
Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a hot coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with the tongs,
Moreover, he goeth out to hew down Cedar trees: He bringeth home Elms and Oaks, and other timber of the wood. Or else the Fir trees which he planted himself, and such as the rain hath swelled, which wood serveth for men to burn. Of this he taketh and warmeth himself withal: he maketh a fire of it to bake bread. And afterward maketh a god thereof, to honour it: and an Idol to kneel before it. read more. One piece he burneth in the fire; with another he roasteth flesh, that he may eat roast his belly full; with the third he warmeth himself, and sayeth, "Aha, I am well warmed, I have been at the fire."
Now the king sat in the winter house, for it was in the ninth Month, and there was a good fire before him.
In that time will I make the princes of Judah like a hot burning oven with wood, and like a cresset of fire among the straw: so that they shall consume all the people round about them, both upon the righthand and the left. Jerusalem also shall be inhabited again: namely, in the same place where Jerusalem standeth.
Morish
Mineral coal is now known to exist in the Lebanon range, but was unknown in Biblical times. Fires were seldom needed for warmth, and were as a rule used only for the cooking of food: the fire named in Joh 18:18 was in the night; food was cooked by charcoal or by warming the ovens with any vegetable refuse. The coal generally referred to in the O.T. was charcoal; but other words are used which imply the hot or glowing stones on which cakes were cooked. 1Ki 19:6; Cant. 8:6; Isa 6:6; Hab 3:5.
Heaping coals of fire on an enemy's head by kindness (Pr 25:21-22; Ro 12:20) becomes a test to him (as metal is tested by the fire), the kindness shown him will either bring about contrition and friendship, or harden him yet the more.
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And he looked about him: and see, there was a loaf of broiled bread and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid him down again to sleep.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; For so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a hot coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with the tongs,
Destruction goeth before him, and burning cressettes go from his feet.
The servants and the ministers stood there, and had made a fire of coals. For it was cold, and they warmed themselves. Peter also stood among them and warmed himself.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Smith
Coal.
The first and most frequent use of the word rendered coal is a live ember, burning fuel.
In
coals of fire are put metaphorically for the lightnings proceeding from God.
In
fuel not yet lighted is clearly signified. The fuel meant in the above passage is probably charcoal, and not coal in our sense of the word.
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Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and consuming fire out of his mouth, that coals were kindled of him.
Of the brightness, that was before him, coals were set on fire.
There went a smoke out in his presence, and a consuming fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled at it. {TYNDALE: Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and consuming fire out of his mouth, that coals were kindled of him.}
At the brightness of his presence, his clouds removed hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: Of the brightness that was before him, coals were set on fire.} The LORD also thundered out of the heaven, and the highest gave his thunder, with hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most high put out his voice.}
Let hot burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, and into the pit, that they never rise up again.
Coals kindle heat, and wood the fire; even so doth a brawling fellow stir up variance.