Proverbs 25:21-22
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This verse isn't just about basic charity; it's a radical call to actively dismantle hostility by meeting your enemy's deepest needs. It’s about confronting hate not with more hate, but with surprising, life-giving kindness that aims to melt their resistance.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs that offers practical wisdom for living justly and wisely, often contrasting shrewdness with righteousness. It immediately follows warnings against bearing false witness and seeking revenge, setting a tone of thoughtful consideration for how one deals with adversaries. The verse then connects to the next, which explains the surprising outcome of such kindness, suggesting it's a strategic way to disarm an enemy through unexpected mercy.
When someone has wronged you, your first instinct might be to pull away, to guard your resources, or even to seek revenge. But this proverb calls for something entirely different. It challenges our natural inclinations with a powerful, unexpected command.
Proverbs 25:21 presents a radical act of generosity: "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink." This isn't just about basic politeness; it's about actively meeting the fundamental needs of someone who has harmed you.
Why would the Bible tell us to be kind to our enemies? It's not just about being nice; there's a profound purpose behind this seemingly soft approach. This proverb reveals a strategy for dealing with conflict that aims for transformation, not just temporary peace.
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The proverb doesn't just command kindness; it hints at its powerful effect. The act of providing for an enemy isn't random; it's strategic and designed to bring about change.
Understand the original words
’ôyēḇ · Hebrew Noun
An adversary or opponent; one who acts with hostility toward another. Biblically, it emphasizes the command to love and show grace even to those who oppose or mistreat us.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God in the Old Testament, representing His faithfulness, holiness, and personal relationship with His people. It is the name revealed to Moses at the burning bush.
This passage directly quotes and builds upon Proverbs 25:21, explaining that heaping 'coals of fire' on an enemy's head is achieved by overwhelming them with acts of kindness, thereby overcoming evil with good.
Matthew 5:44Jesus' teaching to 'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you' is a powerful New Testament parallel to this Old Testament proverb, extending the principle of active kindness even to those who wish us harm.
2 Kings 6:22This narrative provides a historical example of the proverb in action, where the prophet Elisha instructed Israel to feed and give drink to the Syrian army that had surrounded them, demonstrating a practical application of kindness to enemies.
Luke 6:27-36Jesus' discourse on love and mercy for enemies in Luke echoes the spirit of Proverbs 25:21, urging followers to be generous, forgiving, and to 'do good' to those who oppose them, reflecting God's own merciful nature.
gillProverbs 25:21: "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:"
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat,.... Which includes all manner of food; whatever persons may have in their houses, that they should bring out and feed the hungry with, even though an enemy; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; which was what was usually and in common drank in those countries. These two, bread and water, take in all the necessaries of life;…
clarkeProverbs 25:21: "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:"
If thine enemy be hungry - See this and the next verse explained, Romans 12:20 (note).
This verse isn't just about basic charity; it's a radical call to actively dismantle hostility by meeting your enemy's deepest needs. It’s about confronting hate not with more hate, but with surprising, life-giving kindness that aims to melt their resistance.
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs that offers practical wisdom for living justly and wisely, often contrasting shrewdness with righteousness. It immediately follows warnings against bearing false witness and seeking revenge, setting a tone of thoughtful consideration for how one deals with adversaries. The verse then connects to the next, which explains the surprising outcome of such kindness, suggesting it's a strategic way to disarm an enemy through unexpected mercy.
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs that offers practical wisdom for living justly and wisely, often contrasting shrewdness with righteousness. It immediately follows warnings against bearing false witness and seeking revenge, setting a tone of thoughtful consideration for how one deals with adversaries. The verse then connects to the next, which explains the surprising outcome of such kindness, suggesting it's a strategic way to disarm an enemy through unexpected mercy.
"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you." — This verse isn't just about basic charity; it's a radical call to actively dismantle hostility by meeting your enemy's deepest needs. It’s about confronting hate not with more hate, but with surprisi…
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Last reviewed October 2026
