Romans 12:20 kjv
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.
Romans 12:20 nkjv
Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
Romans 12:20 niv
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."
Romans 12:20 esv
To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."
Romans 12:20 nlt
Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads."
Romans 12 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 12:21 | "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." | Prov 16:32 (Patience overcomes anger) |
| Matthew 5:39 | "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." | 1 Pet 2:21 (Suffering unjustly) |
| Proverbs 25:21-22 | "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you." | Luke 6:27-28 (Love your enemies) |
| 1 Peter 3:9 | "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. Instead, give a blessing, because it is for this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." | Gen 12:3 (Blessing through obedience) |
| Galatians 6:10 | "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." | Eph 2:10 (Created for good works) |
| Ephesians 4:32 | "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." | Col 3:13 (Forgiving as Christ forgave) |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:15 | "Make sure that nobody pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else." | Phil 2:3-4 (Humility and considering others) |
| Romans 12:17 | "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be responsible for what is right in the eyes of everyone." | Rom 12:14 (Bless those who persecute) |
| Romans 12:18 | "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." | Heb 12:14 (Pursue peace) |
| 1 Peter 2:15 | "For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish people." | Titus 2:7-8 (Show integrity) |
| Proverbs 17:13 | "Whoever repays good with evil will not be freed from trouble." | Prov 18:24 (Loyal friendship vs. destruction) |
| Matthew 12:36 | "But I tell you that people will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." | Eph 4:29 (Edifying speech) |
| John 1:5 | "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." | 1 John 1:5 (God is light) |
| Romans 8:37 | "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." | Rev 12:11 (Overcoming through blood of the Lamb) |
| Colossians 3:12 | "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." | 1 Pet 2:16 (Live as free people) |
| Ephesians 5:11 | "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." | Rom 13:12-14 (Put on the armor of light) |
| Acts 4:33 | "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was powerfully at work in them all." | Acts 1:8 (Witnesses empowered) |
| Mark 10:45 | "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." | John 3:16 (God so loved the world) |
| 1 Corinthians 15:57 | "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." | Phil 3:10 (Power of His resurrection) |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." | Rom 6:22 (Sanctification by the Spirit) |
Romans 12 verses
Romans 12 20 Meaning
This verse instructs believers on how to overcome evil: by doing good and being victorious. It's a powerful directive to actively engage with adversaries by demonstrating kindness and positive action, thus rendering their malice ineffective. The core message is the transformative power of good in subduing evil.
Romans 12 20 Context
This verse, Romans 12:20, is the concluding admonition in a chapter dedicated to practical Christian living. The preceding verses (Romans 12:17-19) advise against repaying evil with evil, living at peace with others, and avoiding vengeance. The entire chapter emphasizes transformation through the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2) and living a life of selfless love and service as a response to God's mercies. The immediate context, therefore, frames this final instruction as a positive application of the principles of non-retaliation and peace-making discussed just before it. Historically, Roman believers faced social pressures and potential injustices, making the instruction to overcome evil with good a vital survival and witness strategy in a world often marked by conflict and persecution.
Romans 12 20 Word analysis
"Be not" (ou mē nikáō): Literally, "you shall not conquer" or "be not overcome." The strong prohibition indicates a grave spiritual danger and a persistent challenge for believers. It implies a continuous process of vigilance and action to prevent defeat.
"overcome" (nikáō): To gain the victory, conquer, prevail. It speaks to being defeated or conquered by a superior force. In this context, it refers to allowing evil to gain dominion over one's heart or actions.
"evil" (kakós): Evil, wicked, bad, malicious, morally wrong. It encompasses not just acts but the underlying principle or disposition that opposes good and God.
"but" (allá): A conjunction introducing a strong contrast or alternative.
"overcome" (nikáō): Used again, this time as a positive imperative. The repetition highlights the call to an active, conquering stance against evil.
"evil" (kakós): Refers to evil actions or intentions.
"with" (en): "By" or "through" or "in." It signifies the means or manner by which this overcoming is to be accomplished.
"good" (agathós): Good, morally excellent, beneficial, virtuous. It points to active, benevolent, and righteous behavior and intentions, rooted in God's nature.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Be not overcome by evil": This phrase is a call to maintain spiritual integrity and freedom. It means not letting the sin or malevolence of others defeat you, embitter you, or cause you to compromise your own standards of conduct and faith. It is a passive resistance to being defined or conquered by negative external forces.
- "but overcome evil with good": This is the active, counter-active response. The emphasis is on using goodness, kindness, generosity, and restorative actions as the "weapon" or method to subdue and neutralize evil. It's a proactive strategy rooted in the love and grace of God, echoing Christ's example.
Romans 12 20 Bonus section
The imagery of "heaping burning coals on his head," found in Proverbs 25:21-22, is a relevant Old Testament precursor. This does not mean causing the enemy pain or guilt through shame in a malicious way. Rather, it’s interpreted as the gentle, persistent action of goodness causing a refining heat, a transformation of the enemy’s heart, much like a blacksmith refines metal in a fire. This process is a testament to God's restorative power working through obedient followers. The victory is not about winning an argument or humiliating an opponent, but about experiencing personal integrity and potentially contributing to the repentance and redemption of the offender, all while knowing God is the ultimate judge and rewarder. It emphasizes a spiritual warfare approach where love is the primary weapon, drawing on divine strength rather than human might.
Romans 12 20 Commentary
This verse is a pivotal directive on ethical conduct in the Christian life. It shifts the focus from reacting to evil with reciprocal harm to a proactive stance of positive engagement. The believer is called to demonstrate Christ-likeness by choosing a path of beneficial action and genuine kindness, even towards those who perpetrate evil. This approach doesn't mean tolerating sin or enabling wrongdoing, but rather neutralizing the power of evil by overwhelming it with acts of love, mercy, and righteousness. The goal is not self-vindication but to ultimately win over the perpetrator through demonstration of superior, God-honoring behavior, thereby experiencing spiritual victory.
- Practical usage examples:
- Responding to slander with consistent truthful and kind words about the person, rather than retaliating with gossip or accusations.
- When a colleague is intentionally excluded or treated unfairly, stepping in to offer support and inclusivity, demonstrating compassion.
- Facing a personal injustice by extending forgiveness and continuing to offer genuine help or service, thereby disarming bitterness and potential further harm.