Ecclesiastes 4:9

Ecclesiastes 4:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
• New International Version (NIV)Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

Context of Ecclesiastes 4:9

7Next, I turned to look at something pointless under the sun: 8There are people who are all alone. They have no children or other family members. So there is no end to all the hard work they have to do. Their eyes are never satisfied with riches. But ⌞they never ask themselves⌟ why they are working so hard and depriving themselves of good things. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy. Two people are better than one because ⌞together⌟ they have a good reward for their hard work. 10If one falls, the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for the one who is ⌞all⌟ alone when he falls. There is no one to help him get up. 11Again, if two people lie down together, they can keep warm, but how can one person keep warm?

Ecclesiastes 4:9 word by word

טוֹבִ֥ים הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם מִן־הָאֶחָ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יֵשׁ־לָהֶ֛ם שָׂכָ֥ר ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָלָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• because they haveיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• rewardשָׂכָרώâkâr · wagesH7939
• for their labourעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:9

• Genesis 2:18Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him.”
• Exodus 4:14Then the Lord became angry with Moses and asked, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He’s already on his way to meet you, and he will be very glad to see you.
• Numbers 11:14I can’t take care of all these people by myself. This is too much work for me!
• Proverbs 27:17⌞As⌟ iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another.
• Haggai 1:14The Lord inspired them ⌞to rebuild his house⌟. So Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon began working on the house of the Lord of Armies, their God.
• Mark 6:7He called the twelve apostles, sent them out two by two, and gave them authority over evil spirits.
• Acts 13:2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me. I want them to do the work for which I called them.”
• Acts 15:39Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to the island of Cyprus.
• 1 Corinthians 12:18So God put each and every part of the body together as he wanted it.
• Ruth 2:12May the Lord reward you for what you have done! May you receive a rich reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose protection you have come for shelter.”
• John 4:36The person who harvests the crop is already getting paid. He is gathering grain for eternal life. So the person who plants the grain and the person who harvests it are happy together.
• 2 John 1:8Be careful that you don’t destroy what we’ve worked for, but that you receive your full reward.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Two are better than one - Married life is infinitely to be preferred to this kind of life, for the very reasons alleged below, and which require no explanation.Read the comment
• 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. 99. Two--opposed to "one" (Ec 4:8). Ties of union, marriage, friendship, religious communion, are better than the selfish solitariness of the miser (Ge 2:18). reward--Advantage accrues from their efforts being conjoined. The Talmud says, "A man without a companion is like a left hand without the right.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:9

• Fellowship
• Friendship
• Union

In the dictionaries

• Prison
• Threefold
• 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