Original Word: פֶחָם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: pecham
Pronunciation: peh-khahm'
Phonetic Spelling: (peh-khawm')
Definition: Charcoal, coal
Meaning: a coal

coals

Perhaps from an unused root probably meaning to be black; a coal, whether charred or live -- coals.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
coal
NASB Translation
charcoal (1), coals (2).

מֶּחָם noun [masculine] coal (collective); absolute ׳פ, as inflammable, לְגֶחָלִים ׳פ Proverbs 26:21 (charcoal for embers, Toy); of glowing coal Isaiah 44:12, ׳אֵשׁ פ Isaiah 54:16; Psalm 11:6 for ᵑ0 מַּחִ֑ים אֵשׁ read מַּחַם אֵשׁ (or מַּחֲמֵי) coals of fire ("" גָּפְרִית), so Ew and others

פחת (√ of following; compare Arabic cut off, VII. be perforated (of roof); Syriac Pa`el pierce, break through, pit, chasm; Late Hebrew מָּחַת dig, hollow out, also diminish).

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be black.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek entry in Strong's Concordance is G440, which is the Greek word ἄνθραξ (anthrax), meaning "coal" or "charcoal." This term is used in the New Testament, such as in John 18:18, where it describes the charcoal fire around which Peter warms himself during Jesus' trial. The Greek term shares a similar semantic range with the Hebrew פֶחָם (pecham), emphasizing the continuity of imagery related to coals across the biblical texts.

Usage: The term פֶחָם (pecham) is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to charcoal or burning coals, often in the context of fire or heat.

Context: The Hebrew word פֶחָם (pecham) appears in the Old Testament to denote charcoal or burning coals. This term is used to describe the material that produces heat and is often associated with fire-related imagery. In the ancient Near Eastern context, charcoal was a common fuel source, used for cooking and heating. The imagery of burning coals is also employed metaphorically in the Scriptures to convey ideas of purification, judgment, or intense emotion.

In the Berean Standard Bible, פֶחָם (pecham) is translated as "coal" or "coals." For example, in Proverbs 26:21, the verse states, "As charcoal to embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife." Here, the use of פֶחָם (pecham) illustrates the idea of something that fuels or intensifies a situation, much like how charcoal sustains a fire.

The concept of coals is also significant in the context of sacrificial practices and divine encounters. In Isaiah 6:6, a seraphim uses a live coal from the altar to touch Isaiah's lips, symbolizing purification and preparation for prophetic ministry. This highlights the transformative power associated with coals in the biblical narrative.

בַּפֶּחָ֔ם בפחם פֶּחָ֔ם פֶּחָ֣ם פחם bap·pe·ḥām bappeCham bappeḥām pe·ḥām peCham peḥāmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts