New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 4:9
9Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.
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
7So I again considered another futile thing on earth: 8A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task! Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. 10For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. 11Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 4Ecclesiastes 4:9 word by word
טוֹבִ֥ים הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם מִן־הָאֶחָ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יֵשׁ־לָהֶ֛ם שָׂכָ֥ר ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָלָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:9
- Genesis 2:18The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”
- Exodus 4:14Then the Lord became angry with Moses, and he said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak very well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he will be glad in his heart.
- Numbers 11:14I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me!
- Proverbs 27:17As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.
- Haggai 1:14So the Lord energized and encouraged Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the whole remnant of the people. They came and worked on the temple of their God, the Lord who rules over all.
- Mark 6:7Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
- Acts 13:2While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- Acts 15:39They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,
- 1 Corinthians 12:18But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided.
- Ruth 2:12May the Lord reward your efforts! May your acts of kindness be repaid fully by the Lord God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection!”
- John 4:36The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together.
- 2 John 1:8Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a 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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries