Romans 12:20 (GNV)

Passage

Therefore, if thine enemie hunger, feede him: if he thirst, giue him drinke: for in so doing, thou shalt heape coales of fire on his head.

Nearby Context

Romans 12:18 If it bee possible, as much as in you is, haue peace with all men.

Romans 12:19 Dearely beloued, auenge not your selues, but giue place vnto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 12:20 Therefore, if thine enemie hunger, feede him: if he thirst, giue him drinke: for in so doing, thou shalt heape coales of fire on his head.

Romans 12:21 Bee not ouercome of euill, but ouercome euill with goodnesse.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "thine", "enemie", "hunger", "feede", "thirst", "giue", and "drinke". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "thine", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Dearely beloued auenge not your selues but..." into verse 21's "Bee not ouercome of euill but ouercome...", so "therefore" and "thine" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "therefore" and "thine" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.