Romans 12:20 (WEB)

Passage

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”Proverbs 25:21-22

Nearby Context

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

Romans 12:19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” Deuteronomy 32:35

Romans 12:20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”Proverbs 25:21-22

Romans 12:21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Don t seek revenge yourselves beloved but..." into verse 21's "Don t be overcome by evil but...", so "therefore" and "enemy" 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 "enemy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.