Proverbs 25 · Verse 22

Proverbs 25:22

For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
Proverbs 25:22, King James Version

Proverbs 25:22 in other translations

BSBFor in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
WEBfor you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
ASVFor thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
YLTFor coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
DARBYfor thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.
BBEFor so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
WebsterFor thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.

What does Proverbs 25:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 25:21-22

21-22. (Compare Mt 5:44; Ro 12:20). As metals are melted by heaping coals upon them, so is the heart softened by kindness.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 25:21-22 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head - Not to consume, but to melt him into kindness; a metaphor taken from smelting metallic ores: - So artists melt the sullen ore of lead, By heaping coals of fire upon its head: In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow, And pure from dross the silver runs below. S. Wesley.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 25:21-22

The precept to love even our enemies is an Old Testament commandment. Our Saviour has shown his own great example in loving us when we were enemies.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 25:21-22 →

Proverbs 25:22 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
גֶֽחָלִ֗יםge.cha.Limburning coalsH1513
אַ֭תָּה'A.tahyouH859
חֹתֶ֣הcho.Teh[will] snatch upH2846
עַל\־'al-onH5921
רֹאשׁ֑וֹro.Shohead hisH7218
וַֽ֝יהוָ֗הva.Yah.wehand YahwehH3068
יְשַׁלֶּם\־ye.sha.lem-he will repayH7999
לָֽךְ\׃Lakhto you

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 25:22

  • 2 Samuel 16:12

    It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.

  • Matthew 10:13

    And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For.Not to consume, but to melt him into kindness; a metaphor taken from smelting metalic ores.
the Lord.
2Sa 16:12; Mt 10:13; 1Co 15:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 25:21

    If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

  • Proverbs 25:22

    For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

  • Proverbs 25:23

    The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

Read all of Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque ascuas allegas sobre su cabeza, y Jehová te lo pagará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car tu entasseras des charbons ardents sur sa tête, et l’ Éternel te le rendra.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn glühende Kohlen wirst du auf sein Haupt häufen, und Jehova wird dir vergelten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.