21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22For 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
Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionyour enemyשֹׂ֭נַאֲךָH8130Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularis hungryרָעֵ֣בH7457Adjective - masculine singulargive him foodלָ֑חֶםH3899Noun - masculine singularto eatהַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּH398Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singularand ifוְאִם־H518Conjunctionhe is thirstyצָ֝מֵ֗אH6771Adjective - masculine singulargive him waterמָֽיִם׃H4325Noun - masculine pluralto drinkהַשְׁקֵ֥הוּH8248Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 22
Cross-references
Original words
For [in so doing]כִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionyouאַ֭תָּהH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularwill heapחֹתֶ֣הH2846Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularburning coalsגֶֽחָלִ֗יםH1513Noun - masculine pluralonעַל־H5921Prepositionhis headרֹאשׁ֑וֹH7218Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand the LORDוַֽ֝יהוָ֗הH3068Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwill rewardיְשַׁלֶּם־H7999Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularyouלָֽךְ׃Preposition | second person feminine singular
BSB notes
- LXX; Hebrew For you will heap burning coals on his head; cited in Romans 12:20