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coal

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(glow). The coal of scripture is charcoal, or embers (Prov. 26:21²¹As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (Proverbs 26:21); John 18:18; 21:9¹⁸And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. (John 18:18)
⁹As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. (John 21:9)); heated stones (1 Kings 19:6⁶And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. (1 Kings 19:6); Isa. 6:6⁶Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (Isaiah 6:6)); metaphorical (2 Sam. 22:9-13⁹There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. ¹⁰He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. ¹¹And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. ¹²And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. ¹³Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. (2 Samuel 22:9‑13); Psa. 18:8,12-13⁸There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. (Psalm 18:8)
¹²At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. ¹³The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. (Psalm 18:12‑13); Rom. 12:20²⁰Therefore 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. (Romans 12:20)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

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Charcoal

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 John 18:18¹⁸And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. (John 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 Old Testament was charcoal; but other words are used which imply the hot or glowing stones on which cakes were cooked (1 Kings 19:6⁶And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. (1 Kings 19:6); Song of Sol. 8:6⁶Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. (Song of Solomon 8:6); Isa. 6:6⁶Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (Isaiah 6:6); Hab. 3:5⁵Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. (Habakkuk 3:5)).

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Heaping coals of fire on an enemy’s head by kindness (Prov. 25:21-22²¹If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: ²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. (Proverbs 25:21‑22); Rom. 12:20²⁰Therefore 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. (Romans 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.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:

7529 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Transliteration:

retseph

Phonic:

reh’-tsef

Meaning:

for 7565; a red-hot stone (for baking)

KJV Usage:

coal