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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

Context of Ecclesiastes 4:9

7Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: 8There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business! Two 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. 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

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 2:18The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
• Exodus 4:14Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.
• Numbers 11:14I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.
• Proverbs 27:17As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
• Haggai 1:14So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,
• Mark 6:7Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
• Acts 13:2While they were worshiping 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 such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
• 1 Corinthians 12:18But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
• Ruth 2:12May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
• John 4:36Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
• 2 John 1:8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

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