COAL, COALS. The term primarily refers to charcoal, since Pal. does not have deposits of mineral coal. Mainly two Heb. words designate charcoal.

1. גַּחֶ֫לֶת, H1625, LXX, ἄνθραξ, G472, which occurs at least sixteen times and denotes burning charcoal which was used for cooking (Isa 44:19; John 21:9) and heating (Isa 47:14; John 18:18). The term occurs with several metaphorical connotations. It may designate the member of a family line (2 Sam 14:7); the revelation of God (22:9, 13; Ps 18:8, 12; Ezek 1:13; 10:2); the breath of leviathan (Job 41:21); and the judgment of God (Ps 120:4; 140:10; Prov 25:22; cf. Rom 12:20).

2. פֶּחָם, H7073, LXX, ἄνθραξ, G472, appears at least three times in the OT. Twice it designates burning charcoal in a forge (Isa 44:12; 54:16) and once unburnt charcoal (Prov 26:21). Its meaning in Psalm 11:6 is problematical.

The following words are tr. in KJV as coal or coals, but most others are not.

3. רֶ֫שֶׁפ֒, H8404, LXX πῦρός is so rendered in Song of Solomon 8:6, but the term does not refer to charcoal. It is a hot stone.

4. רִצְפָּה֒, H8365, LXX, ἄνθραξ, G472, is found in 1 Kings 19:6 and Isaiah 6:6 but seems to designate hot stones rather than live charcoal.

5. שְׁחﯴר, H8818, LXX, ἀσβόλος would be better tr. as blackness instead of coal (Lam 4:8).