Proverbs 25:21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:
The setting
Solomon's palace, ~950 BC, where ancient Near Eastern hospitality was sacred. Jerusalem, modern Israel.
The emotion here: steely determination to choose the harder path
The original word
oyeb (אֹיֵב) — active enemy, not just someone you dislike but someone plotting harm
Why it matters
In ancient times, refusing food/water to anyone was considered a grave sin against hospitality
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 25:21
This assumes your enemy is in genuine need - not just being nice to mean people
Common misconceptionPeople think this makes you a doormat. Actually, it puts YOU in the position of strength and moral authority.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 25:21
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 25:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 25:21 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include kindness, enemy love. Notable phrases: give him food; give him water. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 25:21 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "growing"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.