Romans 12:20

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἐὰν οὖν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, ψώμιζε αὐτόν· ἐὰν διψᾷ, πότιζε αὐτόν: τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.

Transliteration

If therefore peina the echthros of you, psōmize him; if dipsa, potize him; this for poiōn anthrakas of pyros you will sōreuseis upon the kephalēn of him.

Grammar Details

• *peina*: present active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - hungers
• *echthros*: nominative, masculine, singular - enemy
• *psōmize*: present active imperative, 2nd person singular - feed
• *dipsa*: present active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - thirsts
• *potize*: present active imperative, 2nd person singular - give drink
• *poiōn*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - doing
• *anthrakas*: accusative, masculine, plural - coals
• *pyros*: genitive, neuter, singular - of fire
• *sōreuseis*: future active indicative, 2nd person singular - you will heap
• *kephalēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - head

Word Meanings

• *peina*: hungers/is hungry
• *echthros*: enemy/hostile one/foe
• *psōmize*: feed/give food/nourish
• *dipsa*: thirsts/is thirsty
• *potize*: give drink/water/make to drink
• *poiōn*: doing/making/performing
• *anthrakas*: coals/burning coals
• *pyros*: fire/flame
• *sōreuseis*: heap/pile up/accumulate
• *kephalēn*: head/chief part

Referenced Verses

• Prov 25:21-22 : 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
• Matt 5:44 : 44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
• Luke 6:27 : 27 But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,
• 2 Kgs 6:22 : 22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
• Exod 23:4-5 : 4 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, thou shalt forbear to leave him, thou shalt surely release [it] with him.
• Song 8:6-7 : 6 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol; The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of Jehovah. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, He would utterly be contemned.
• 1 Sam 24:16-19 : 16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil. 18 And thou hast declared this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou killedst me not. 19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.
• 1 Sam 26:21 : 21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
• Ps 120:4 : 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of juniper.
• Ps 140:10 : 10 Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise.