What Does "heap coals of fire on his head" Mean?

​Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

To properly understand this verse, we must view it in the greater context. This verse is a quote from Proverbs 25:21-22, which reads: "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee." When you view Romans 12:17-21, you see the tenor of the principles the Apostle Paul was addressing. In verse 19 when he mentioned, "For it is written, Vengeance is mine," in essence he was quoting Deuteronomy 32:35. Paul was setting down long-held moral principles for appropriate behavior when being ill-treated. 
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Romans 12:21 summarizes much of the discussion with "overcome evil with good." Retaliation never wins the offender; two wrongs never make a right, but kind Christian conduct, as exhibited from the Cross by Christ when He said, "Father forgive them" (Luke 23:34), is as effective as it was on the centurion. In Acts 7:60, read the words of Stephen, when the life was ebbing out of him. He said, "Lay not this sin to their charge," no doubt making a profound impact on young Saul of Tarsus.

Earl R. Borders

From the January 2023 issue of The Gospel Trumpeter