Ecclesiastes 4:12
in Ecclesiastes 4And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
KJV
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 4
Commentary
8 notes on this versePaul fled too, that he might pass out through a window and be lowered in a basket. Yes, he knew that the triple-stranded rope could not break, but he fled so that he might preach the gospel of the Lord in the entire world, and consequently he was taken up into paradise. Let us also flee through the window while heeding the Lord's precepts and keeping them with steady vision and chaste eyes.
This site's exposition
Two are better than one
on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Against the lone man, the Teacher argues for companionship in four parts: a good return, help to lift him up, warmth together, and strength. The case closes on its proverb, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken, read since the Targum as friendship strengthened by a third.
This site's exposition
a cord of three strands
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown take the cord of three strands as many joined together, such as a man, his wife and his children. Untwist it, they add, and each strand is quickly broken. Gregory the Dialogist sees in the three strands faith in the Trinity, woven by preachers.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Two are better than one, for they get a greater return for their labour. For should they fall, one can raise the other; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and there is no one to raise him! Also, if two sleep together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? Where one can be overpowered, two can resist attack; A three-ply cord is not easily severed!"
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
As for the advantage in defending he adds: "And if anyone prevails against one, two will resist him," and thus it avails for defense: 2 Kings 10: "If the Syrians prevail against me, you shall be an aid to me: but if the sons of …
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book 33, Section 18 · Written before 604.
proposed
By a "cord," faith is expressed, as Solomon witnesses, who says, "A threefold cord is not easily broken" because the faith in truth that is woven by the mouth of preachers from the knowledge of the Trinity remains firm in the elect. It is broken only in the heart of the reprobate.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
one--enemy. threefold cord--proverbial for a combination of many--for example, husband, wife, and children (Pr 11:14); so Christians (Lu 10:1; Untwist the cord, and the separate threads are easily "broken."
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And if an individual attacks. If thieves came to attack him, if they are two, they will stand up to them, and certainly, if they are three, “and the threefold cord is not quickly severed.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
They can be warm. [To be understood] according to its apparent meaning, regarding male and female, who are aroused by one another and procreate.
Better a poor but wise child. This is the good inclination, and why is it called “child”? Because it comes to a person only at the age of thirteen years.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאִֽם־ | veim- | and though | H518 → | 1069 times |
| יִתְקְפוֹ֙ | yitkefo | someone will overpower him | H8630 → | |
| הָאֶחָ֔ד | haechad | the one [person] | H259 → | 971 times |
| הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם | hashenayim | the two [people] | H8147 → | 768 times |
| יַעַמְד֣וּ | yaamdu | they will stand | H5975 → | 521 times |
| נֶגְדּ֑וֹ | negdo | before him | H5048 → | |
| וְהַחוּט֙ | vehachut | and the thread | H2339 → | |
| הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ | hamshulash | <the> threefold | H8027 → | |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| בִמְהֵרָ֖ה | vimherah | <in> quickly | H4120 → | |
| יִנָּתֵֽק׃ | yinatek | it will be torn apart | H5423 → |
וְאִֽם־and though
veim-H518 →1069 times
יִתְקְפוֹ֙someone will overpower him
yitkefoH8630 →
הָאֶחָ֔דthe one [person]
haechadH259 →971 times
הַשְּׁנַ֖יִםthe two [people]
hashenayimH8147 →768 times
יַעַמְד֣וּthey will stand
yaamduH5975 →521 times
נֶגְדּ֑וֹbefore him
negdoH5048 →
וְהַחוּט֙and the thread
vehachutH2339 →
הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ<the> threefold
hamshulashH8027 →
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
בִמְהֵרָ֖ה<in> quickly
vimherahH4120 →
יִנָּתֵֽק׃it will be torn apart
yinatekH5423 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 4:3and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united…
- Colossians 3:13–15
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12–13
The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
- Romans 14:17–19
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- John 13:34
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
Through
2 Samuel 23:9Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men…
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 11:12–14
Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.
- 1 Chronicles 27:4
Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 1 Samuel 17:26
David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he…
- 1 Chronicles 11:12–14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on Ambrose of Milan, FLIGHT FROM THE WORLD 9:54; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book 33, Section 18; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.