Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. New Living Translation If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. English Standard Version If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, Berean Standard Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. King James Bible If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: New King James Version If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; New American Standard Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; NASB 1995 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; NASB 1977 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; Legacy Standard Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; Amplified Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; Christian Standard Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, Holman Christian Standard Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; American Standard Version If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: Contemporary English Version If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat. And if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. English Revised Version If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: GOD'S WORD® Translation If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him some water to drink. Good News Translation If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink. International Standard Version If your enemy hungers, give him food to eat; and if he thirsts, give him water to drink. Majority Standard Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. NET Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, New Heart English Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink, Webster's Bible Translation If thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink: World English Bible If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIf he who is hating you hungers, cause him to eat bread, "" And if he thirsts, cause him to drink water. Young's Literal Translation If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water. Smith's Literal Translation If thine enemy hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he thirst, give him water to drink: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink: Catholic Public Domain Version If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink. New American Bible If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat, if thirsty, give something to drink; New Revised Standard Version If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated If your enemy hungers, feed him, and if he thirsts, give him drink. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; Brenton Septuagint Translation If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context More Proverbs of Solomon…20Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.… Cross References Romans 12:20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Luke 6:27-28 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Exodus 23:4-5 If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him. / If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it. 1 Samuel 24:17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. 2 Kings 6:22-23 “Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.” / So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again. 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ... Luke 10:33-37 But a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him, he had compassion. / He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. / The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’ ... 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. Genesis 45:5-8 And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. / For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. / God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ... 2 Chronicles 28:15 Then the men who were designated by name arose, took charge of the captives, and provided from the plunder clothing for the naked. They clothed them, gave them sandals and food and drink, anointed their wounds, and put all the feeble on donkeys. So they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria. Job 31:29-30 If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him— / I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse— Psalm 35:13-14 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. / I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother. Psalm 109:4-5 In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. / They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Treasury of Scripture If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: Proverbs 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Exodus 23:4,5 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again… Matthew 5:44 But 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; Jump to Previous Bread Cause Drink Eat Enemy Food Hater Hating Hunger Hungry Need Thirst Thirsty WaterJump to Next Bread Cause Drink Eat Enemy Food Hater Hating Hunger Hungry Need Thirst Thirsty WaterProverbs 25 1. observations about kings8. and about avoiding causes of quarrels If your enemy is hungry, This phrase emphasizes the radical nature of biblical love and kindness, extending even to one's enemies. In the ancient Near Eastern context, hospitality was a significant cultural value, often extended to strangers and travelers. However, extending such care to an enemy would have been countercultural and challenging. This instruction aligns with the broader biblical theme of loving one's enemies, as seen in Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:44). It reflects the character of God, who provides for all people, regardless of their relationship with Him. give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. Proverbs is a collection of his wise sayings. 2. Enemies In the context of this verse, "enemies" refers to those who oppose or have hostility towards us. The verse challenges the natural human response to treat enemies with kindness. 3. Ancient Israel The cultural and historical backdrop of Proverbs, where hospitality and care for others were significant societal values. Teaching Points The Call to Radical KindnessProverbs 25:21 challenges believers to respond to hostility with generosity, reflecting God's grace and mercy. Breaking the Cycle of Retaliation By feeding and giving drink to our enemies, we break the cycle of revenge and hostility, promoting peace and reconciliation. Reflecting Christ's Love As followers of Christ, we are called to mirror His love and forgiveness, even towards those who oppose us. Trusting in God's Justice By showing kindness to our enemies, we trust in God's ultimate justice and leave vengeance to Him. Practical Steps in Loving Enemies Consider practical ways to show kindness to those who oppose you, such as praying for them, offering help, or speaking kindly.Verses 21, 22. - This famous tetrastrich is reproduced (with the exception of the fourth line) from the Septuagint by St. Paul (Romans 12:20). Verse 21. - The traditional hatred of enemies is here strongly repudiated (see Proverbs 24:17, 18, and notes there). Thus Elisha treated the Syrians, introduced blindly into the midst of Samaria, ordering the King of Israel to set bread and water before them, and to send them away unharmed (2 Kings 6:22). "Punish your enemy by benefiting him," say the Arabs, though they are far from practising the injunction; "Sweet words break the bones;" "Bread and salt humble even a robber," say the Russians. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifאִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not your enemy שֹׂ֭נַאֲךָ (na·’ă·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 8130: To hate is hungry, רָעֵ֣ב (rā·‘êḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7456: To be hungry give him food לָ֑חֶם (lā·ḥem) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain to eat, הַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּ (ha·’ă·ḵi·lê·hū) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 398: To eat and if וְאִם־ (wə·’im-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not he is thirsty, צָ֝מֵ֗א (ṣā·mê) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6771: Thirsty give him water מָֽיִם׃ (mā·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen to drink. הַשְׁקֵ֥הוּ (haš·qê·hū) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 8248: To quaff, to irrigate, furnish a, potion to Links Proverbs 25:21 NIVProverbs 25:21 NLT Proverbs 25:21 ESV Proverbs 25:21 NASB Proverbs 25:21 KJV Proverbs 25:21 BibleApps.com Proverbs 25:21 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 25:21 Chinese Bible Proverbs 25:21 French Bible Proverbs 25:21 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry give him (Prov. 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