Ecclesiastes 4:11

Ecclesiastes 4:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

Context of Ecclesiastes 4:11

9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.

Ecclesiastes 4:11 word by word

גַּ֛ם אִם־יִשְׁכְּב֥וּ שְׁנַ֖יִם וְחַ֣ם לָהֶ֑ם וּלְאֶחָ֖ד אֵ֥יךְ יֵחָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Againגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• if twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• lie togetherשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
• then they have heatחָמַםchâmam · to warmH2552
• but how can oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• be warmיָחַםyâcham · to conceiveH3179

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:11

• 1 Kings 1:1When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:11

• 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. 1111. (See on 1Ki 1:1). The image is taken from man and wife, but applies universally to the warm sympathy derived from social ties. So Christian ties (Lu 24:32; Ac 28:15).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:11

• 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