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Romans 12

Rom. 12:20 KJV (With Strong’s)

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20
Therefore
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
oun (Greek #3767)
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
KJV usage: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
Pronounce: oon
Origin: apparently a primary word
if
ean (Greek #1437)
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
KJV usage: before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever). See 3361.
Pronounce: eh-an'
Origin: from 1487 and 302
thine
sou (Greek #4675)
of thee, thy
KJV usage: X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
Pronounce: soo
Origin: genitive case of 4771
s enemy
echthros (Greek #2190)
hateful (passively, odious, or actively, hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan)
KJV usage: enemy, foe.
Pronounce: ech-thros'
Origin: from a primary ἔχθω (to hate)
hunger
peinao (Greek #3983)
to famish (absolutely or comparatively); figuratively, to crave
KJV usage: be an hungered.
Pronounce: pi-nah'-o
Origin: from the same as 3993 (through the idea of pinching toil; "pine")
, feed
psomizo (Greek #5595)
to supply with bits, i.e. (generally) to nourish
KJV usage: (bestow to) feed.
Pronounce: pso-mid'-zo
Origin: from the base of 5596
him
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
; if
ean (Greek #1437)
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
KJV usage: before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever). See 3361.
Pronounce: eh-an'
Origin: from 1487 and 302
he thirst
dipsao (Greek #1372)
to thirst for (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: (be, be a-)thirst(-y).
Pronounce: dip-sah'-o
Origin: from a variation of 1373
, give
potizo (Greek #4222)
to furnish drink, irrigate
KJV usage: give (make) to drink, feed, water.
Pronounce: pot-id'-zo
Origin: from a derivative of the alternate of 4095
him
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
drink
potizo (Greek #4222)
to furnish drink, irrigate
KJV usage: give (make) to drink, feed, water.
Pronounce: pot-id'-zo
Origin: from a derivative of the alternate of 4095
: for
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
in so
touto (Greek #5124)
that thing
KJV usage: here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore).
Pronounce: too'-to
Origin: neuter singular nominative or accusative case of 3778
doing
poieo (Greek #4160)
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
KJV usage: abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.
Pronounce: poy-eh'-o
Origin: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary
thou shalt heap
soreuo (Greek #4987)
to pile up (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: heap, load.
Pronounce: sore-yoo'-o
Origin: from another form of 4673
coals
anthrax (Greek #440)
a live coal
KJV usage: coal of fire.
Pronounce: anth'-rax
Origin: of uncertain derivation
of fire
pur (Greek #4442)
"fire" (literally or figuratively, specially, lightning)
KJV usage: fiery, fire.
Pronounce: poor
Origin: a primary word
on
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
his
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
head
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
kephale (Greek #2776)
the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
KJV usage: head.
Pronounce: kef-al-ay'
Origin: from the primary κάπτω (in the sense of seizing)
.
s
Prov. 25:21‑22• 21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
 22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. (Prov. 25:21‑22)
;
Matt. 5:44• 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matt. 5:44)

More on:

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Fire,
Head

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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if thine.
Ex. 23:4‑5• 4If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
 5If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. (Ex. 23:4‑5)
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1 Sam. 24:16‑19• 16And 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.
 17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
 18And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
 19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. (1 Sam. 24:16‑19)
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1 Sam. 26:21• 21Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. (1 Sam. 26:21)
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Prov. 25:21‑22• 21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
 22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. (Prov. 25:21‑22)
;
Matt. 5:44• 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matt. 5:44)
coals.
Psa. 120:4• 4Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. (Psa. 120:4)
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Psa. 140:10• 10Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. (Psa. 140:10)
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Song of Sol. 8:6‑7• 6Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
 7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. (Song of Sol. 8:6‑7)
• The day of vengeance, of judgment on an ungodly world, will come, but are we not the followers of Him who healed His enemy’s ear? (“Romans 12” by C. Stanley)
• "Fire" is symbolic of judgment—in this case, self-judgment. The "head" is the place of one's thoughts. Hence, repeated acts of kindness toward those who dislike us will eventually reach their hearts and consciences, and they will change their minds about us. This shows that practical Christianity goes beyond non-resistance to active benevolence. (“Practical Righteousness Toward Those Outside the Christian Community: Romans 12:17-21” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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20
If therefore thine enemy should hunger, feed him; if he should thirst, give him drink; for, so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his headg.

JND Translation Notes

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g
See Prov. 25.21-22.

W. Kelly Translation

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20
Naya, “if thine enemy should be hungry, feed him; if he should thirst, give him drink; for, this doing, thou wilt heap coals of fire on his head.”

WK Translation Notes

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a
This is the reading of the most ancient text.