Ecclesiastes 4:12

Ecclesiastes 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
• New International Version (NIV)Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Context of Ecclesiastes 4:12

10for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up. 11Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 13A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)— 14for the poor youth has [used his wisdom and] come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 word by word

וְאִֽם־יִתְקְפוֹ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם יַעַמְד֣וּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ וְהַחוּט֙ הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ לֹ֥א בִמְהֵרָ֖ה יִנָּתֵֽק׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And if oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• prevailתָּקֵףtâqaph · to prevailH8630
• against him, twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• shall withstandעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• him; and a threefoldשָׁלַשׁshâlash · to do threeH8027
• cordחוּטchûţ · threadH2339
• is not quicklyמְהֵרָהmehêrâh · hasteH4120
• brokenנָתַקnâthaq · to tearH5423

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:12

• 2 Samuel 23:9Next to him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three mighty men with David when they taunted and defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had gone.
• Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point.
• Ephesians 4:3Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:12

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 The spectacle of a prosperous man whose condition is rendered vain by his brotherless, childless isolation. Ecclesiastes 4:8 A second - Any one associated or connected with him. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Compare a saying from the Talmud: “A man without companions is like the left hand without the right.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 Surely he has more satisfaction in life, who labours hard to maintain those he loves, than the miser has in his toil. In all things union tends to success and safety, but above all, the union of Christians. They assist each other by encouragement, or friendly reproof. They warm each other's hearts while they converse together of the love of Christ, or join in singing his praises. Then let us improve our opportunities of Christian fellowship…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-12Two are better than one: The solitary man (Ecclesiastes 4:8) reminds us of the benefits of partnerships in business and personal life.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. one--enemy. threefold cord--proverbial for a combination of many--for example, husband, wife, and children (Pr 11:14); so Christians (Lu 10:1; Col 2:2, 19). Untwist the cord, and the separate threads are easily "broken."Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:12

• Cord
• Fellowship
• Friendship
• Rope
• Union

In the dictionaries

• Cord
• Prison
• Threefold
• Fillet
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings