Parallel Verses New International Version On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." King James Bible Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Darby Bible Translation If therefore thine enemy should hunger, feed him; if he should thirst, give him drink; for, so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. World English Bible Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head." Young's Literal Translation I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head; Romans 12:20 Parallel Commentary Clarke's Commentary on the BibleIf thine enemy hunger, feed him - Do not withhold from any man the offices of mercy and kindness; you have been God's enemy, and yet God fed, clothed, and preserved you alive: do to your enemy as God has done to you. If your enemy be hungry, feed him; if he be thirsty, give him drink: so has God dealt with you. And has not a sense of his goodness and long-suffering towards you been a means of melting down your heart into penitential compunction, gratitude, and love towards him? How know you that a similar conduct towards your enemy may not have the same gracious influence on him towards you? Your kindness may be the means of begetting in him a sense of his guilt; and, from being your fell enemy, he may become your real friend! This I believe to be the sense of this passage, which many have encumbered with difficulties of their own creating. The whole is a quotation from Proverbs 25:21, Proverbs 25:22, in the precise words of the Septuagint; and it is very likely that the latter clause of this verse, Thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, is a metaphor taken from smelting metals. The ore is put into the furnace, and fire put both under and over, that the metal may be liquefied, and, leaving the scoriae and dross, may fall down pure to the bottom of the furnace. This is beautifully expressed by one of our own poets, in reference to this explanation of this passage: - "So artists melt the sullen ore of lead, By heaping coals of fire upon its head. In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow, And pure from dross the silver runs below." It is most evident, from the whole connection of the place and the apostle's use of it, that the heaping of the coals of fire upon the head of the enemy is intended to produce not an evil, but the most beneficial effect; and the following verse is an additional proof of this. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge if thine. coals. Psalm 120:4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. Library A Reasonable ServiceTEXT: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."--Romans 12:1. There is perhaps no chapter in the New Testament, certainly none in this epistle, with which we are more familiar than this one which is introduced by the text; and yet, however familiar we may be with the statements, if we read them carefully and study them honestly they must always come to us not only in the … J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot April 6. "As we have Many Members in one Body, So we Being Many are one Body in Christ" (Rom. xii. 4, 5). Another Triplet of Graces Still Another Triplet Cross References Genesis 42:25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, 2 Kings 6:22 "Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Luke 6:27 "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Jump to Previous Burning Coals Contrary Drink Enemy Feed Fire Food Hate Head Heap Heaping Hunger Hungereth Hungry Need Quench Recompense Something Thirst Thirsteth ThirstyJump to Next Burning Coals Contrary Drink Enemy Feed Fire Food Hate Head Heap Heaping Hunger Hungereth Hungry Need Quench Recompense Something Thirst Thirsteth ThirstyLinks Romans 12:20 NIVRomans 12:20 NLT Romans 12:20 ESV Romans 12:20 NASB Romans 12:20 KJV Romans 12:20 Bible Apps Romans 12:20 Biblia Paralela Romans 12:20 Chinese Bible Romans 12:20 French Bible Romans 12:20 German Bible Romans 12:20 Commentaries THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®. Bible Hub |