Lexical Summary anthrax: Coal, burning coal, charcoal Original Word: ἄνθραξ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance coal of fire. Of uncertain derivation; a live coal -- coal of fire. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition coal, charcoal NASB Translation coals (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 440: ἄνθραξἄνθραξ, ἄνθρακος, ὁ, coal (also, from Thucydides and Aristophanes down, ἄνθραξ πυρός a coal of fire i. e. a burning or a live coal), live coal; Romans 12:20 ἄνθρακας πυρός σωρεύειν ἐπί τήν κεφαλήν τίνος, a proverbial expression, from Proverbs 25:22, signifying to call up, by the favors you confer on your enemy, the memory in him of the wrong he has done you (which shall pain him as if live coals were heaped on his head), that he may the more readily repent. The Arabians call things that cause very acute mental pain burning coals of the heart and fire in the liver; cf. Gesenius in Rosenmüller's Biblical-exeg. Repert. i., p. 140f (or in his Thesaurus i. 280; cf. also BB. DD. under the word Topical Lexicon Entry Title: Anthrax – Burning Coal Meaning and Imagery The single New Testament appearance of the term points to the literal image of live, glowing coals. Across Scripture, fire and coals symbolize warmth, purification, judgment, and the penetrating presence of God. The word gathers these ideas into a vivid metaphor for moral conviction and restorative grace. Old Testament Background Proverbs 25:21-22, the passage Paul cites, commands tangible kindness toward an adversary, promising that such mercy “will heap burning coals on his head.” In the Ancient Near East, coals were indispensable for cooking, warmth, and sacrifice; receiving a live coal could mean life-saving heat. Elsewhere coals denote divine purification (Isaiah 6:6-7), destructive judgment (Psalm 140:10; Ezekiel 10:2), and passionate love (Song of Solomon 8:6). This multifaceted backdrop informs Paul’s pastoral appeal. New Testament Usage Romans 12:20 employs the image in the context of Christian ethics: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:20) Here the apostle invokes the proverb to illustrate how Spirit-empowered benevolence confronts hostility. The “coals” are not punitive but provocative—awakening conscience, melting hardness, and opening space for repentance, while leaving vengeance entirely to God (Romans 12:19). Theological Insights 1. Sovereignty of God in Justice: Believers trust divine retribution rather than personal retaliation, aligning with the larger context of Romans 12:17-21. Historical Observations Ancient households commonly carried live embers in a clay brazier on the head when relighting home fires. Supplying hot coals to a neighbor therefore met a practical need and signaled generous goodwill. Paul’s audience in Rome, familiar with such customs, would grasp the call to meet enemies’ needs in concrete ways. Practical Ministry Applications • Personal Relationships: Returning blessing for insult manifests gospel power, encouraging conviction without compromising truth (1 Peter 3:9). Related Biblical Themes Purifying fire – Malachi 3:2-3 Overcoming evil with good – Romans 12:21 Loving enemies – Luke 6:27-36 God as consuming fire – Hebrews 12:29 Summary Anthrax, though occurring only once in the Greek New Testament, encapsulates a profound biblical principle: God’s people answer hostility with practical love, trusting the Lord to use that love as burning coals—agents of conviction, purification, and, ultimately, redemption. Forms and Transliterations άνθρακα άνθρακά ανθρακας άνθρακας ἄνθρακας άνθρακες άνθρακος ανθράκων άνθραξ άνθραξι anthrakas ánthrakasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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