ROM 12:20 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Ἀλλά
2. alla
3. But
4. -
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. BS
10. Y60
11. 111008
1. ἐάν
2. ean
3. if
4. -
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111009
1. οὖν
2. oun
3. -
4. -
5. 37670
6. C·······
7. therefore
8. therefore
9. -
10. -
11. 111010
1. πεινᾷ
2. peinaō
3. may be hungering
4. -
5. 39830
6. VSPA3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ hungering
8. ˓may_be˒ hungering
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111011
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111012
1. ἐχθρός
2. eχthros
3. enemy
4. -
5. 21900
6. S····NMS
7. enemy
8. enemy
9. -
10. Y60; F111016; F111018; F111020; F111033
11. 111013
1. σοῦ
2. su
3. of you
4. your
5. 47710
6. R···2G·S
7. ˱of˲ you
8. ˱of˲ you
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111014
1. ψώμιζε
2. psōmizō
3. be feeding
4. -
5. 55950
6. VMPA2··S
7. ˓be˒ feeding
8. ˓be˒ feeding
9. -
10. Y60; F111021
11. 111015
1. αὐτόν
2. autos
3. him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3AMS
7. him
8. him
9. -
10. Y60; R111013
11. 111016
1. ἐάν
2. ean
3. if
4. -
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111017
1. διψᾷ
2. dipsaō
3. he may be thirsting
4. thirsty
5. 13720
6. VSPA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ thirsting
8. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ thirsting
9. -
10. Y60; R111013
11. 111018
1. πότιζε
2. potizō
3. be giving to drink
4. drink
5. 42220
6. VMPA2··S
7. ˓be˒ giving_to_drink
8. ˓be˒ giving_to_drink
9. -
10. Y60; F111021
11. 111019
1. αὐτόν
2. autos
3. him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3AMS
7. him
8. him
9. -
10. Y60; R111013
11. 111020
1. τοῦτο
2. houtos
3. this
4. -
5. 37780
6. R····ANS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y60; R111015; R111019
11. 111021
1. δέ
2. de
3. -
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 111022
1. γάρ
2. gar
3. because/for
4. because
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111023
1. ποιῶν
2. poieō
3. doing
4. -
5. 41600
6. VPPA·NMS
7. doing
8. doing
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111024
1. ἄνθρακας
2. anthrax
3. charcoal
4. -
5. 4400
6. N····AMP
7. charcoal
8. charcoal
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111025
1. πυρός
2. pur
3. of fire
4. -
5. 44420
6. N····GNS
7. ˱of˲ fire
8. ˱of˲ fire
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111026
1. σωρεύσεις
2. sōreuō
3. you will be heaping
4. -
5. 49870
6. VIFA2··S
7. ˱you˲ ˓will_be˒ heaping
8. ˱you˲ ˓will_be˒ heaping
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111027
1. ἐπί
2. epi
3. on
4. -
5. 19090
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111028
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111029
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 111030
1. κεφαλήν
2. kefalē
3. head
4. -
5. 27760
6. N····AFS
7. head
8. head
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111031
1. κεφαλῆς
2. kefalē
3. -
4. -
5. 27760
6. N····GFS
7. head
8. head
9. -
10. -
11. 111032
1. αὐτοῦ
2. autos
3. of him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y60; R111013
11. 111033

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–21: Paul taught about our body, love, and revenge

In this section, Paul taught that believers should use their bodies in ways that are holy and acceptable to God. Our thinking must change so that it follows the will of God and not the thinking of the people of this world.

Paul also taught that believers should not be more proud of themselves than what is right before God. We all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit, and we should use them.

Believers should love in a genuine way, avoid evil deeds, honor others, be full of eagerness to serve the Lord. They should rejoice, be patient, pray, help others, and show hospitality.

Believers should bless the people who persecute them, and live in sympathy and harmony with other believers. They are not to be proud such that they avoid people with no status in society. They are not to think of themselves as wise.

Believers are not to take revenge, but leave that for God to do something about the evil done to them. They are to do things that are honorable and live at peace with others, if they can. They are to bless their enemies by doing good to them.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The New Life in Christ (NRSV)

Our bodies, thinking, and deeds must be holy and good

12:20a

On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

Instead, as the Scripture says, “If your^(sing) enemy hungers, give him food.

On the contrary: There is a textual issue in 12:20a: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word but (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NABRE, ESV, REB, NLT, GW, NET, NCV). (2) Some later Greek manuscripts have the word therefore. (KJV only). It is recommended that you follow option (1). Some scholars believe these words indicate contrast to allowing God to take vengeance. Instead of just allowing God to take vengeance, a believer is supposed to help his enemy with food or something to drink. The English versions that indicate contrast do not say what they are contrasting to. For example:

No (RSV)

Instead (GNT)

Other scholars see this as indicating contrast to a believer taking vengeance. But in 12:19 Paul told the believers to not take vengeance. Some languages would not see that as contrasting. For example:

And more: (NJB)

AndKankanaey Back Translation in TW.

The Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation omits this word.

“If your enemy is hungry…”: This quote is from Proverbs 25:21–22. Some languages always introduce quotes from Scripture in a clear way. For example:

as the Scripture says, “if your enemy is hungry…”

feed him;: The semi-colon (;) after the word him indicates in English that there is a connection to the words that follow but does not say what that connection is. Some languages can use a semi-colon here. For example, the Kankanaey Back Translation says:

feed him; if…

In some languages a comma and a connecting word are most natural here. For example, the Ramoaina Back Translation says:

you should feed him, and if…

In some languages a full stop is most natural. For example, the Tagbanwa Back Translation says:

feed (him). If…

12:20b

if he is thirsty, give him a drink.

Or if he thirsts, give him a drink.

give him a drink: Some English versions add the words “something to,” perhaps because a drink often refers to an alcoholic beverage in English. In many languages a drink will not imply an alcoholic beverage.

a drink.: In some English versions, there is a semi-colon (;) after the word drink. This indicates in English that there is a connection to the words that follow but does not say what that connection is. But the connecting word “for” begins 12:20c. You should use a comma or a full stop here, as the BSB does.

12:20c

For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

For when you do that to him, it will be as if you heap hot coals on his head.”

For: Here this word introduces the reason for feeding a hungry enemy or giving a drink to a thirsty enemy.

in so doing: This phrase refers to feeding a hungry enemy or giving a drink to a thirsty enemy. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

In doing this (NIV)

when you do that

you will heap burning coals on his head: This is a figure of speech. The scholars have several opinions about what it means:

It refers to causing the enemy to be ashamed for the bad things he has done to the believer (Cranfield and others).
It refers to adding more punishment for God to give the enemy at the final judgment (Schreiner and others).
It refers to a rite, originally Egyptian, of repentance, so implies the enemy repents (Dunn and others).
It refers to hospitality, inviting the enemy to join in the Christian love feast (Jewett).

The scholars argue for and against each of the options, except interpretation (4), which no one other than Jewett speaks to.

It is recommended that you translate literally, because it is not clear which interpretation is best. Many English versions translate literally here. For example:

you will be heaping red-hot coals on his head (NJB)

If you translate literally you may want to explain its possible meanings in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Heaping burning coals on someone’s head is a figure of speech. Here are the three ways it is usually interpreted: (1) it refers to causing the person to be ashamed, (2) it refers to added, later punishment that God will give this person, or (3) it refers to the person repenting. It is not clear which meaning is correct.

However, if you must choose an interpretation, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because a few English versions follow it. For example:

you will make them burn with shame (GNT)

you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads (NLT)

you will make him feel guilty and ashamed (GW)

If you translate according to interpretation (1), you may want to give a literal translation in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Literally: “you will heap burning coals on his head.”

General Comment on 12:20a–c

These words are a quote of Proverbs 25:21–22. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

ἀλλὰ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά ἐάν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σοῦ ψώμιζε αὐτόν ἐάν διψᾷ πότιζε αὐτόν τοῦτο γάρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρός σωρεύσεις ἐπί τήν κεφαλήν αὐτοῦ)

But here indicates that what follows is a quotation from an Old Testament book ([Proverbs 25:21–22](../pro/25/21.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase that indicates that Paul is quoting from an important text. Alternate translation: [But, God says in the Scriptures,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

ἐὰν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, ψώμιζε αὐτόν; ἐὰν διψᾷ, πότιζε αὐτόν; τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν, ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.

This sentence is a quotation of [Proverbs 25:21–22](../pro/25/21.md). It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off all of this material with quotation marks or with whatever punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ὁ ἐχθρός σου & σωρεύσεις

the enemy (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά ἐάν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σοῦ ψώμιζε αὐτόν ἐάν διψᾷ πότιζε αὐτόν τοῦτο γάρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρός σωρεύσεις ἐπί τήν κεφαλήν αὐτοῦ)

Here the pronouns your and you are singular and addressed as though to one person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use plural forms here.

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

For indicates that what follows this word explains what came before it. Here, For indicates that what follows is the reason why what was said in the previous sentence is true. Use a natural way in your language for indicating a reason. Alternate translation: [This is due to the fact that]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ

charcoal (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά ἐάν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σοῦ ψώμιζε αὐτόν ἐάν διψᾷ πότιζε αὐτόν τοῦτο γάρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρός σωρεύσεις ἐπί τήν κεφαλήν αὐτοῦ)

This clause is an idiom. It could refer to: (1) a person feeling shame as a result of being helped by someone whom that person had harmed. Alternate translation: [you will make the person who harmed you feel badly about how he has mistreated you] (2) God very severely punishing the person who is being helped. Alternate translation: [you will give God a reason to judge him more harshly]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. But
2. -
3. 2350
4. BS
5. alla
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. BS
10. Y60
11. 111008
1. if
2. -
3. 14370
5. ean
6. C-·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111009
1. may be hungering
2. -
3. 39830
5. peinaō
6. V-SPA3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ hungering
8. ˓may_be˒ hungering
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111011
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111012
1. enemy
2. -
3. 21900
5. eχthros
6. S-····NMS
7. enemy
8. enemy
9. -
10. Y60; F111016; F111018; F111020; F111033
11. 111013
1. of you
2. your
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2G·S
7. ˱of˲ you
8. ˱of˲ you
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111014
1. be feeding
2. -
3. 55950
5. psōmizō
6. V-MPA2··S
7. ˓be˒ feeding
8. ˓be˒ feeding
9. -
10. Y60; F111021
11. 111015
1. him
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3AMS
7. him
8. him
9. -
10. Y60; R111013
11. 111016
1. if
2. -
3. 14370
5. ean
6. C-·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111017
1. he may be thirsting
2. thirsty
3. 13720
5. dipsaō
6. V-SPA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ thirsting
8. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ thirsting
9. -
10. Y60; R111013
11. 111018
1. be giving to drink
2. drink
3. 42220
5. potizō
6. V-MPA2··S
7. ˓be˒ giving_to_drink
8. ˓be˒ giving_to_drink
9. -
10. Y60; F111021
11. 111019
1. him
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3AMS
7. him
8. him
9. -
10. Y60; R111013
11. 111020
1. because/for
2. because
3. 10630
5. gar
6. C-·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111023
1. this
2. -
3. 37780
5. houtos
6. R-····ANS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y60; R111015; R111019
11. 111021
1. doing
2. -
3. 41600
5. poieō
6. V-PPA·NMS
7. doing
8. doing
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111024
1. charcoal
2. -
3. 4400
5. anthrax
6. N-····AMP
7. charcoal
8. charcoal
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111025
1. of fire
2. -
3. 44420
5. pur
6. N-····GNS
7. ˱of˲ fire
8. ˱of˲ fire
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111026
1. you will be heaping
2. -
3. 49870
5. sōreuō
6. V-IFA2··S
7. ˱you˲ ˓will_be˒ heaping
8. ˱you˲ ˓will_be˒ heaping
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111027
1. on
2. -
3. 19090
5. epi
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111028
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111029
1. head
2. -
3. 27760
5. kefalē
6. N-····AFS
7. head
8. head
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111031
1. of him
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y60; R111013
11. 111033

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.