Romans 12:20 (LSB)

Passage

“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Nearby Context

Romans 12:18 if possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all men,

Romans 12:19 never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 12:20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "enemy", "hungry", "feed", "thirsty", "give", "drink", "doing", and "heap". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "enemy" and "hungry", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "never taking your own revenge beloved instead..." into verse 21's "Do not be overcome by evil but...", so "enemy" and "hungry" 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 "enemy" and "hungry" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.