Pro 26:20 | KingComments | STEP | The comparison in is that “wood” feeds fire and a “whisperer” feeds contention. To keep a fire burning fuel is needed. If there is no fuel, the fire goes out. The fire goes out when there is no more wood, and contention ceases when there is no whisperer. Contention is like fire. It kindles others and destroys relationships. The whisperer is the kindler. He works in a cunning way; with his gossip he influences others negatively. Whispering or gossip is fuel for strife. The whisperer must be eliminated. This can be done by silencing him. It can also be done by not listening to him. Then the contention quiets down and ceases. The whisperer of is in “the contentious man”. He has a nose for “strife” and knows how to “kindle” it. He provides the fuel for it and throws oil on the fire when there are tensions somewhere. There is already a fire and he adds the necessary fuel to it. He is the very opposite of a peacemaker, for he causes strife. And when the strife threatens to go out, he stirs up the fire once more. To do this, he says a few ugly or insinuating words about someone, which causes the contending parties to wage war against each other again in all their fervor. Let us be careful not to cause a contention, and when a quarrel is settled, not to say things that cause the contention to flare up again. Why do whisperers and contentious people so often get the opportunity to do their destructive work? Because gossip is so attractive to the sinful flesh ( ; ). “The words of a whisperer” are compared to dainty morsels. They are eagerly and thoroughly feasted upon by those who hear them. If we do not reject the words of a whisperer, they will settle inside us and negatively affect our feelings. It is present there like a smoldering fire and will do its consuming work if we do not judge ourselves when we have listened to those words and have not rejected them.

‏ Proverbs 26:20

Whispers and Contention

The comparison in Pro 26:20 is that “wood” feeds fire and a “whisperer” feeds contention. To keep a fire burning fuel is needed. If there is no fuel, the fire goes out. The fire goes out when there is no more wood, and contention ceases when there is no whisperer. Contention is like fire. It kindles others and destroys relationships.

The whisperer is the kindler. He works in a cunning way; with his gossip he influences others negatively. Whispering or gossip is fuel for strife. The whisperer must be eliminated. This can be done by silencing him. It can also be done by not listening to him. Then the contention quiets down and ceases.

The whisperer of Pro 26:20 is in Pro 26:21 “the contentious man”. He has a nose for “strife” and knows how to “kindle” it. He provides the fuel for it and throws oil on the fire when there are tensions somewhere. There is already a fire and he adds the necessary fuel to it.

He is the very opposite of a peacemaker, for he causes strife. And when the strife threatens to go out, he stirs up the fire once more. To do this, he says a few ugly or insinuating words about someone, which causes the contending parties to wage war against each other again in all their fervor. Let us be careful not to cause a contention, and when a quarrel is settled, not to say things that cause the contention to flare up again.

Why do whisperers and contentious people so often get the opportunity to do their destructive work? Because gossip is so attractive to the sinful flesh (Pro 26:22; Pro 18:8). “The words of a whisperer” are compared to dainty morsels. They are eagerly and thoroughly feasted upon by those who hear them.

If we do not reject the words of a whisperer, they will settle inside us and negatively affect our feelings. It is present there like a smoldering fire and will do its consuming work if we do not judge ourselves when we have listened to those words and have not rejected them.