Revised Literal Translation
Proverbs 25:21
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Proverbs 25:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
- New International Version (NIV)If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
- New King James Version (NKJV)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
Context of Proverbs 25:21
19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Yhwh shall reward thee. 23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Read all of Proverbs 25Proverbs 25:21 word by word
אִם־רָעֵ֣ב שֹׂ֭נַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּ לָ֑חֶם וְאִם־צָ֝מֵ֗א הַשְׁקֵ֥הוּ מָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 25:21
- Proverbs 24:17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
- Exodus 23:4If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
- Matthew 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- Luke 10:33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
- Romans 12:20Therefore 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.
Commentaries on Proverbs 25:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21If thine enemy be hungry - See this and the next verse explained, Romans 12:20; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21A precept reproduced by Paul Romans 12:20; the second clause of which seems at first sight to suggest a motive incompatible with a true charity. Leviticus 16:12 suggests an explanation. The high priest on the Day of Atonement was to take his censer, to fill it with “coals of fire,” and then to put the incense thereon for a sweet-smelling savor. So it is here. The first emotion in another caused by the good done to him may be one of burning shame, but the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-22Verses 21-22 The precept to love even our enemies is an Old Testament commandment. Our Saviour has shown his own great example in loving us when we were enemies.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-22Surprisingly, showing kindness to an enemy works better than showing anger (see Romans 12:20).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2221-22. (Compare Mt 5:44; Ro 12:20). As metals are melted by heaping coals upon them, so is the heart softened by kindness.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 25:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries