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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Proverbs 25:21-22

PROVERBS—NOTE ON Proverbs 25:21 The image of burning coals on the enemy’s head does not imply doing something that harms the enemy, because the phrase further explains the bread and drink, which do him good. Also, the LORD will reward you implies a good result from these “burning coals,” which is most consistent with leading the person to repentance for his or her earlier hostility.

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See also Proverbs 25:21-22 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Proverbs 25:21. _IF THINE ENEMY BE HUNGRY_] See this and the next verse explained, Romans 12:20....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    A precept reproduced by Paul Romans 12:20; the second clause of which seems at first sight to suggest a motive incompatible with a true charity. Leviticus 16:12 suggests an explanation. The high pries...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    IV. THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON COLLECTED BY THE MEN OF HEZEKIAH CHAPTER 25 Here begin the proverbs which the good king Hezekiah, under the guidance of the Spirit of God, added to this book. “This title...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    FIRST DIVISION. In general character this division shows a resemblance to the Sayings of the Wise, containing a number of quatrains and synthetic couplets, and but few antithetic couplets. PROVERBS...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IF THINE ENEMY BE HUNGRY, &C. Quoted in Romans 12:20. compare 1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 26:9. Illustrations: Azariah, Berachiah, &c. ...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 809 RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL Proverbs 25:21. _If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shall heap coals of fire upon his head...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    IF THINE ENEMY BE HUNGRY, &C.— The plain meaning of this seems to be, "Be kind to your enemy; for that is the surest way to gain his love, and God's blessing." It is true, _coals of fire_ are seldom t...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT Proverbs 25:20-28 20. As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart, 21. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread t...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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. Quoted in ; ; cf. Introduction to Poetical Books....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    COURTS. QUARRELS 1-7. relate to kings and courts....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 25 MORE OF SOLOMON’S PROVERBS (WISE WORDS) (PROVERBS 25:1 TO PROVERBS 29:27)...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Do not attack your enemy! Do not fight him! Instead, trust God! God will protect you. Pray for your enemy! Love your enemy! Jesus taught this lesson in Matthew 5:43-48. While Jesus was dying, he pray...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אִם ־רָעֵ֣ב שֹׂ֭נַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּ לָ֑חֶם וְ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 25 FORGIVING "Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause, and deceive not with thy lips. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to hi...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 26 THE KING "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    SELF-CONTROL AND KINDLINESS Proverbs 25:15-28 In this paragraph we have good advice as to our dealings with the varied characters with whom we are forced into daily contact. Here is a man hard as a b...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    We now come to the second collection of the proverbs of Solomon. These, as the title specifically declares, constitute a posthumous collection gathered in the days of Hezekiah. Speaking generally, the...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Confidence i...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 10 THROUGH 31. In chapter 10 begin the details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be followe...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 e...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: Ver. 21. _If thine enemy be hungry._] Elisha did so: he feasted his persecutors 2Ki 6:22 by a noble rev...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread_, &c. By bread and water he intends all things necessary for his subsistence; _for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head_ If he have the least spark of...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    TRUE WISDOM THE HIGHEST GOOD OF KINGS AND SUBJECTS....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, readily sharing food with him, AND IF HE BE THIRSTY, GIVE HIM WATER TO DRINK;...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    In This CHAPTER, forming the first section, necessarily affirms the basic principles of true unity, which is absolutely essential to recovery. For departure is the very breeding-ground of division, -...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BY BREAD AND WATER he understands all things necessary for his subsistence....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 25:21 enemy H8130 (H8802) hungry H7457 bread H3899 eat H398 (H8685) thirsty H6771 water H4325 drink...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Warnings and instructions. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon, Hezekiah. CONCLUSION: (Principal lesson, Proverbs 25:21; Proverbs 25:22.) The way to turn an enemy into a friend is to act friendly towa...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Proverbs 25:1. _These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah copied out._ Solomon wrote three thousand proverbs, and a thousand and five songs. 1 Kings 4:32. The supplement to the boo...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 25:21_ A BLESSED RECOMPENSE I. A RECOMPENSE WHICH IS DIFFICULT. No one can affirm that it is an easy thing to minister help and comfort to one who has done us an injury,...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION VERSE 1-29:27 PART VI. SECOND GREAT COLLECTION OF SOLOMONIC PROVERBS, gathered by "the men of Hezekiah," in which wisdom is set forth as the greatest blessing to the king and his subjects...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in chapter 25. These proverbs were gathered by Hezekiah when he became king, and they were added to the books of proverbs by Hezekiah's scribes. During the period of Hezekiah's reign, it was a per...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Exodus 23:4; Exodus 23:5; Luke 10:33; Matthew 5:44; Proverbs 24:17;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Bread — By bread and water he understands all things necessary for his subsistence....

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