12:20a
On the contrary:
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 (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Instead (Good News Translation)
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: (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
And
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
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 Berean Standard Bible does.
12:20c
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 (New International Version)
-or-
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:
(1) It refers to causing the enemy to be ashamed for the bad things he has done to the believer (Cranfield and others).
(2) It refers to adding more punishment for God to give the enemy at the final judgment (Schreiner and others).
(3) It refers to a rite, originally Egyptian, of repentance, so implies the enemy repents (Dunn and others).
(4) 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 (New Jerusalem Bible)
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 (Good News Translation)
-or-
you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you will make him feel guilty and ashamed (God’s Word)
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.
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