Meaning of Proverbs 25:22 on Loving Enemies
Proverbs 25:21-22 instructs, "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you" [7]. This passage is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs, likely compiled during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah [7].
The literary context of Proverbs 25:21-22 is a series of sayings that emphasize the importance of treating others with kindness, even if they are enemies. The surrounding verses discuss the value of humility, the dangers of pride, and the need to maintain good relationships with others.
The historical setting of Proverbs 25 is the royal court of Judah during the period of the monarchy. The sayings collected in this chapter likely originated from the wisdom tradition of ancient Israel.
The key terms in Proverbs 25:21-22 are "enemy" and "reward." The Hebrew word for "enemy" (Hebrew: אוֹיֵב, 'oyeb) refers to someone who harbors hatred or ill will towards another person. The phrase "heap coals of fire upon his head" is a metaphor that has been interpreted in various ways throughout history.
One major exegetical decision in interpreting Proverbs 25:21-22 is understanding the meaning of "heaping coals of fire upon his head." The Babylonian Talmud interprets this phrase as a reference to God's reconciliation of the enemy to the person showing kindness, rather than a literal act of vengeance [2, 3, 4]. In this view, the "coals of fire" represent the shame or remorse that the enemy may feel upon receiving kindness.
The range of interpretations for Proverbs 25:21-22 is broad. Some traditions, such as the Jewish Rabbinic tradition, interpret the passage as a call to show kindness to enemies in order to bring about their reconciliation [2, 3, 4]. Christian interpreters, such as John Calvin, see the passage as a command to love one's enemies and to show them kindness, even if they do not deserve it [6]. The Heidelberg Catechism cites Proverbs 25:21-22 as a biblical basis for the command to love one's enemies and to do good to those who hate us [8].
This passage has functioned in Christian tradition as a key text for understanding the importance of loving one's enemies. It is cited in the New Testament in Romans 12:20, where the Apostle Paul uses it to exhort believers to show kindness to their enemies. The passage has also been used in various Christian catechisms and confessions to emphasize the importance of loving one's neighbors and enemies [8].
The interpretation of Proverbs 25:21-22 has significant implications for Christian ethics and practice. As John Gill notes, the passage is to be understood in its literal sense, as a command to show kindness to enemies when they are in need [5]. This understanding is in line with the broader biblical emphasis on loving one's enemies and showing them kindness, as seen in Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27 [1].
Sources
- Luke “Luke 6:27 (Tyndale) — But I saye vnto you which heare: Love youre enemyes. Do good to the which hate you.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 113b.103:8: Solomon called it enemy, as it is stated: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Proverbs 25:21–22). Do not read it as: And the Lord will reward you [ yeshalem lakh ]; rather read it as: And the Lord will reconcile it to you [ yashlimenu lakh ]. God will cause the evil inclination to love you and no longer seek to entice you to sin.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 113a.103:8: Solomon called it enemy, as it is stated: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Proverbs 25:21–22). Do not read it as: And the Lord will reward you [ yeshalem lakh ]; rather read it as: And the Lord will reconcile it to you [ yashlimenu lakh ]. God will cause the evil inclination to love you and no longer seek to entice you to sin.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 52a.8: Solomon called it enemy, as it is stated: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Proverbs 25:21–22). Do not read it as: And the Lord will reward you [ yeshalem lakh ]; rather read it as: And the Lord will reconcile it to you [ yashlimenu lakh ]. God will cause the evil inclination to love you and no longer seek to entice you to sin.”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 12:20: Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him,.... These words are taken from Pro 25:21, and to be understood, as a Jewish (o) writer observes, according to "their literal sense"; though some of the Rabbins explain them in an allegorical way, of the corruption of nature. The Alexandrian copy and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version, reads "but if"; so far should the saints be from meditating revenge upon their enemies, that they should do good unto them, as Christ directs, Mat 5:44, by feeding them when hungry, and giving drink unto them when thirsty: if he thirs”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 44: in the strictest terms, require us to love our enemies? What is meant by commanding us to feed our enemy if he is hungry, to bring back his ox or his ass if we meet it going astray, or help it up if we see it lying under its burden? ( Prov. 25:21 ; Exod. 23:4 ). Shall we show kindness to cattle for man’s sake, and have no feeling of good will to himself? What? Is not the word of the Lord eternally true: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay?” ( Deut. 32:35 ). This is elsewhere more explicitly stated: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 25:21: 25:21-22 Contrary to expectation, compassion toward an enemy is more effective than anger (see Rom 12:20).”
- Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. Is it enough then: Q. Is it enough then that we do not murder our neighbor in any such way? A. No. By condemning envy, hatred, and anger God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves,1 to be patient, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, and friendly toward them,2 to protect them from harm as much as we can, and to do good even to our enemies.3 1 Matt. 7:12; 22:39; Rom. 12:10 2 Matt. 5:3-12; Luke 6:36; Rom. 12:10, 18; Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet. 3:8 3 Ex. 23:4-5; Matt. 5:44-45; Rom. 12:20-21 (Prov. 25:21-22) Lord’s Day 41 Q & A 108”