21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Focused Passage
Proverbs 25:21-22
Wisdom Before Kings: Hidden Matters, Fitting Words, Faithful Messengers, Enemies, Restraint, and Self-Control
The chapter moves from the historical introduction and royal wisdom, to humility and restraint before kings, to disputes and fitting speech, to faithful and unfaithful communication, to patience and neighborly limits, to mercy toward enemies, and finally to warnings about slander, quarrels, compromise, excess, and the necessity of self-control.
Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources
Study Helps
References and Original Words
Verse 21
Cross-references
Original words
If אִם־ H518 Conjunction your enemy שֹׂ֭נַאֲךָ H8130 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular is hungry רָעֵ֣ב H7457 Adjective - masculine singular give him food לָ֑חֶם H3899 Noun - masculine singular to eat הַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּ H398 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular and if וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction he is thirsty צָ֝מֵ֗א H6771 Adjective - masculine singular give him water מָֽיִם׃ H4325 Noun - masculine plural to drink הַשְׁקֵ֥הוּ H8248 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 22
Cross-references
Original words
For [in so doing] כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction you אַ֭תָּה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular will heap חֹתֶ֣ה H2846 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular burning coals גֶֽחָלִ֗ים H1513 Noun - masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition his head רֹאשׁ֑וֹ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and the LORD וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה H3068 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular will reward יְשַׁלֶּם־ H7999 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular you לָֽךְ׃ Preposition | second person feminine singular
BSB notes
- LXX; Hebrew For you will heap burning coals on his head; cited in Romans 12:20