Coal — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Translation of several Hebrew or Greek words in the Bible referring primarily to charcoal (mineral coal is not found in Palestine). The glowing embers from a wood fire were used for heating (Is 47:14; Jn 18:18), cooking (Is 44:19; Jn 21:9), and by blacksmiths (Is 54:16). Coals from the altar were used in religious ritual (Lv 16:12; Is 6:6-7).

Show passage in OET: ISA 47:14

OET-RV ISA 47:14

⇔  14 Look, they’ve become like straw that get burnt in a fire.
⇔ They can’t rescue themselves from the flames.
⇔ There’ll be no coals to warm them—no fire to sit by.

OET-LV ISA 47:14

14 THERE they _have _become like_chaff a _fire it_has _burnt _them not they _will _deliver DOM self _of_their from_the_hand _of the_flame there_will_not_be coal to_be _warm a _fire to_sit before_it.

Show passage in OET: JHN 18:18

OET-RV JHN 18:18

18 Meanwhile the servants and attendants had made a fire and were standing around it warming themselves, and Kefa also went and stood there to warm himself.

OET-LV JHN 18:18

18 And the slaves and the attendants had _stood, having _made a_charcoal _fire, because it _was cold, and they _were _warming themselves, and the Petros was also with them having _stood and warming himself.

Show passage in OET: ISA 44:19

OET-RV ISA 44:19

19 No one gives much thought to their actions.
⇔ They don’t apply knowledge and understanding, to say,
⇔ ‘I burnt half of the wood in the fire and baked bread on the coals.
⇔ I roasted meat on it and ate it.
⇔ Then I’ll take the remainder to make a detestable idol.
⇔ I’ll bow down to a piece of wood from a tree.’

OET-LV ISA 44:19

19 And_not he _brings _back to his/its_heart and_not knowledge and_not understanding to_say of _it _of_half I _burnt in a _fire and_also I _baked on coals _of_its bread I _roasted meat and_I _ate_it and_the _remainder _of_of _it (into)_an_abomination will _I _make to_a _product _of a _tree will _I _prostrate _myself.

Show passage in OET: JHN 21:9

OET-RV JHN 21:9

9 When they went up the beach, they saw some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it

OET-LV JHN 21:9

9 Therefore when they _got _out on the land, they _are _seeing a_charcoal _fire lying, and fish laying _on it, and bread.

Show passage in OET: ISA 54:16

OET-RV ISA 54:16

⇔  16 Look, I created the craftsman who fans the charcoal fire,
⇔ and produces weapons as his work,
⇔ and it’s me who created a destroyer to cause destruction.

OET-LV ISA 54:16

16 HERE I I _created a _craftsman who_blows on_a _fire _of charcoal and_who_produces a _weapon for_work _of_its and_I I _created a _destroyer to_ruin.

Show passage in OET: LEV 16:12

OET-RV LEV 16:12

12 Then he must get a panful of burning coals off the altar in front of Yahweh as well as two handfuls of finely-ground, fragrant incense, and take them inside the curtain

OET-LV LEV 16:12

12 And_he/it _will _take (the)_fullness _of (the)_censer coals _of fire from_under the_altar from_to/for_face/front/presence YHWH and_the _fullness _of the _hollow _of _his _hands _of_his incense _of perfume(s) fine and_he _will _bring_them from_inside _of to_curtain.

Show passage in OET: ISA 6:6–7

OET-RV ISA 6:6

6 Then one of the ‘serafs’ flew to me. He was holding a hot coal that he’d taken off the altar with a pair of tongs.

OET-RV ISA 6:7

7 He touched my mouth with that coal and said,
⇔ “Look, this has touched your lips,
⇔ and your guilt has been taken away
⇔ ≈ and the price has been paid for your sin.”

OET-LV ISA 6:6

6 And_he _flew to_me one of the_seraphim and_was_in_hand _of_his a _live _coal which_with_tongs he _had _taken from_under the_altar.

OET-LV ISA 6:7

7 And_he _made_it_touch (on) mouth _of_my and_he/it _said HERE this it _has _touched (on) lips _of_your and_ iniquity _of_your _it _will _be _removed and_sin _of_your it _will _be _atoned _for.

Jump to OET ISA 47:14 section.

Jump to OET JHN 18:18 section.

Jump to OET ISA 44:19 section.

Jump to OET JHN 21:9 section.

Jump to OET ISA 54:16 section.

Jump to OET LEV 16:12 section.

Jump to OET ISA 6:6–7 section.

Figuratively, the term is used in descriptions of God’s infinite brightness and glory (2 Sm 22:9, 13 OET SA2 22:9 · OET SA2 22:13), of his revelation (Ps 18:8), of divine judgment (140:10) and of creatures associated with God’s throne (Ez 1:13; 10:2). In other metaphorical passages, glowing coals stand for life (2 Sm 14:7, rsv), the breath of a huge beast (“leviathan,” Jb 41:21), and the risk of being “burned” by sexual sin (Prv 6:28).

Show passage in OET: SA2 22:9; SA2 22:13

OET-RV SA2 22:9

9 Smoke went up from his nose,
⇔ ≈ and burning coals and fire from his mouth.

OET-RV SA2 22:13

13 From the brightness in front of him,
⇔ coals of fire burnt.

OET-LV SA2 22:9

9 Smoke it _went _up in_nose _of_his and_fire from_mouth _of_his it _consumed coals they _burnt from_him.

OET-LV SA2 22:13

13 From_the_brightness before_him coals _of fire they _burnt.

Show passage in OET: PSA 18:8

OET-RV PSA 18:8

8 Smoke went up from out of his nostrils,
⇔ ≈ and blazing fire came out of his mouth.
⇔ Coals were ignited by it.

OET-LV PSA 18:9

9  Smoke it _went _up in_nose _of_his and_fire from_mouth _of_his it _consumed coals they _burnt from_him.

Show passage in OET: PSA 140:10

OET-RV PSA 140:10

10 Let burning coals fall on them.
⇔ ≈ Throw them into the fire or into muddy pits.
⇔ → Never again will they try to attack.

OET-LV PSA 140:11

11  May _they _be _dropped on_them burning _coals in_fire let_someone _make _them _fall in_pits not let _them _arise.

Show passage in OET: EZE 1:13

OET-RV EZE 1:13

13 The living creatures resembled burning coals or torches. Bright fire also moved around among the creatures, and there were flashes of lightning.

OET-LV EZE 1:13

13 And_the _likeness _of the _living _creatures their_appearance was_like_coals _of fire burning like_the _appearance _of (the)_torches it was_moving _about between the _living_creatures and_brightness belonged_to_fire and_from the_fire lightning was_coming _out.

Show passage in OET: EZE 10:2

OET-RV EZE 10:2

2 Then Yahweh spoke to the man dressed in linen and said, “Go between the wheels underneath the winged creatures, and fill both your hands with fiery coals from between the winged creatures and scatter them over the city.”
¶ Then the man went in as I watched.

OET-LV EZE 10:2

2 And_he/it _said to the_man (the)_clothed of_the _linen(s) and_he/it _said go to between (to)_wheel to under (to)_cherub and_fill of _your _two’s _hands _of_the _hollow coals _of fire from_between (to)_cherubim and_sprinkle_them on the_city and_he _went to_eyes _of_my.

Show passage in OET: SA2 14:7

OET-RV SA2 14:7

7 Now listen, the entire clan has turned against your female servant and demanded, ‘Give us the one who killed his brother, and we’ll kill him in exchange for the life of the brother that he killed. Also, it would mean that this evil thing couldn’t be passed on.’ But that would leave me with no descendants to continue my husband’s name.”

OET-LV SA2 14:7