ga.la denotes entering into quarrel or contention, contrasted with stopping strife.

The attested use describes engaging in a quarrel or contention: it is presented as something that can break out, as conduct attributed to a person, and as the opposite of ceasing from strife.

1. Engaging in quarrel or contention · dominant

   In Proverbs 17:14, the Hithpael perfect occurs in the warning to quit before the quarrel breaks out. In Proverbs 18:1 and Proverbs 20:3, the Hithpael imperfect describes a person who quarrels; the latter contrasts this conduct with ceasing from strife.

   Proverbs 17:14Proverbs 18:1Proverbs 20:3

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the clause with “the quarrel breaks out” in Proverbs 17:14 and “quarrels” in Proverbs 18:1 and Proverbs 20:3. These renderings confirm the verses' portrayal of contention without fixing a finer distinction.