AISBT ReaderRom 12:20: Prov 25:21–22 in the MT and LXX, and the omitted conclusion
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Rom 12:20: Prov 25:21–22 in the MT and LXX, and the omitted conclusion

Says After ἀλλὰ, Rom 12:20 quotes Prov 25:21–22a word for word as Swete prints it: ἐὰν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, ψώμιζε αὐτόν, ἐὰν διψᾷ, πότιζε αὐτόν· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ. The opening is a variant unit (var.Rom.12.20.alla-ean).

Says ψώμιζε is B's reading; ℵ and A have τρέφε (Swete's apparatus). Paul agrees with B.

Says The Hebrew differs in small ways: "the one who hates you" (שֹׂנַאֲךָ, sone'akha, BDB p. 971) for "your enemy"; "bread" and "water" as objects; "coals" (גֶחָלִים, BDB p. 160) without "of fire"; and אַתָּה חֹתֶה (attah khoteh, "you are snatching up"; BDB p. 367, "snatch up, usu. fire, coals") for "you will heap."

Says All the forms are singular: הַאֲכִלֵהוּ and הַשְׁקֵהוּ (Hiphil imperatives, second person singular), ψώμιζε, πότιζε, σωρεύσεις. Paul keeps the singular after the plural ἀγαπητοί of 12:19.

Says Paul stops before the conclusion: וַיהוָה יְשַׁלֶּם־לָךְ (veYHWH yeshallem-lakh, "and the Lord will reward you," BSB); Swete has ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἀνταποδώσει σοι ἀγαθά, adding "good things."

Says The verb is the Piel of שָׁלֵם (BDB p. 1022), the root of וְשִׁלֵּם in Deut 32:35, quoted one verse earlier; Swete's ἀνταποδώσει is the verb of Paul's ἀνταποδώσω.

Uncertain Why the conclusion is left out: perhaps because 12:19 has already left repayment to God, or to end on the act of kindness. No lean is taken here.

On the burning coals, see the Greek note (note.language.Rom.12.17-Rom.12.21.orge-anthrakas) and note.exegetical.Rom.12.17-Rom.12.21.overcome-evil.

Claims

  • SaysAfter ἀλλὰ, Rom 12:20 quotes Prov 25:21–22a word for word as Swete prints it (ἐὰν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, ψώμιζε αὐτόν, ἐὰν διψᾷ, πότιζε αὐτόν· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ).
  • Saysψώμιζε is B's reading (ℵA τρέφε); Paul agrees with B.
  • SaysMT differs: שֹׂנַאֲךָ "the one who hates you," bread and water as objects, coals without "of fire," אַתָּה חֹתֶה "you are snatching up" for "you will heap."
  • SaysAll forms are singular (הַאֲכִלֵהוּ, הַשְׁקֵהוּ; ψώμιζε, πότιζε, σωρεύσεις); Paul keeps the singular after the plural ἀγαπητοί.
  • SaysPaul omits the conclusion: MT וַיהוָה יְשַׁלֶּם־לָךְ; Swete ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἀνταποδώσει σοι ἀγαθά, adding "good things."
  • SaysThe verb is the Piel of שָׁלֵם, the root of וְשִׁלֵּם in Deut 32:35; Swete's ἀνταποδώσει is the verb of Paul's ἀνταποδώσω.
  • UncertainWhy the conclusion is left out (repayment already left to God in 12:19, or to end on the act of kindness); no lean.

Citations

  • OSHB CC BY 4.0 Prov 25:21–22 (שֹׂנַאֲךָ morph HVqrmsc/Sp2ms; הַאֲכִלֵהוּ morph HVhv2ms/Sp3ms; גֶחָלִים morph HNcbpa; חֹתֶה morph HVqrmsa; יְשַׁלֶּם morph HVpi3ms)
  • BDB CC BY 4.0 שָׂנֵא (H8130), p. 971, entry u.bq.aa; גַּחֶ֫לֶת (H1513), p. 160, entry c.bq.ab; חָתָה (H2846), p. 367, entry h.gz.aa; שָׁלֵם (H7999), p. 1022, entry v.ds.aa
  • LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Prov 25:21–22 (vol. 2 p. 469; apparatus: "21 ψωμιζε] τρεφε ℵA | 22 ποιων] ποιησας ℵ* | om πυρος A | της κεφαλης ℵ*"). LXX read on the Swete page image, vol. 2 (1896), p. 469.
  • SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 12:19–20
  • BSB public domain Prov 25:22
Sources OSHB CC BY 4.0 LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BDB CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0

Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

2026-11-05

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