Bible/Ecclesiastes/4

Ecclesiastes 4:12

4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

KJV

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If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ¶

4:13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. who: Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished

What does Ecclesiastes 4:12 mean?

Ecclesiastes 4:12 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אֶחָד (ʼechâd), תָּקַף (tâqaph), שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim). It connects to 6 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
if
oneאֶחָדʼechâd/ekh-awd'/H259properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
prevailתָּקַףtâqaph/taw-kaf'/H8630to overpower
against
him,
twoשְׁנַיִםshᵉnayim/shen-ah'-yim/H8147two; also (as ordinal) twofold
shall
withstandעָמַדʻâmad/aw-mad'/H5975to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
him;
and
a
threefoldשָׁלַשׁshâlash/shaw-lash'/H8027to be (causatively, make) triplicate (by restoration, in portions, strands, days or years)
cordחוּטchûwṭ/khoot/H2339a string; by implication, a measuring tape
is
not
quicklyמְהֵרָהmᵉhêrâh/meh-hay-raw'/H4120properly, a hurry; hence (adverbially) promptly
broken.נָתַקnâthaq/naw-thak'/H5423to tear off

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:12

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 4:12
nce>. (3.) Wisdom, ver. 5 . (4.) Stability, ver. 6-8 . (5.) Honour, ver. 6 , 9 . III. The misery of the wicked, ver. 10 . So that good and evil are set before us, the blessing and the curse. In singing this psalm we must not only teach and admonish ourselves and one another to answer to the characters here given of the happy, but comfort and encourage ourselves and one another with the privileges and comforts here secured to the holy. The Character of the Righteous. 1 Praise ye the Lord . Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord , that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. The psalmist begins with a call to us to praise God, but immediately applies himself to praise the

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 17:7

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Genesis 22:17

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; shore: Heb. lip

Genesis 22:18

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Proverbs 20:7

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Jeremiah 32:39

And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: for ever: Heb. all days

Acts 2:39

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 4:12.

Genesis 10:25

And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. Peleg: that is Division

Genesis 27:45

Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

Genesis 4:19

And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

Judges 16:12

Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 4:12 say?

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (King James Version) reads: "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Is Ecclesiastes 4:12 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 4:12 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 4:12, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Ecclesiastes 4:12
4:11Read all of Ecclesiastes 44:13