Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:12

Against him; against either of them. A threefold cord is not quickly broken; if a man have not only one, but two or more friends, he is so much the safer and the happier. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

CRITICAL NOTES.—Ecclesiastes 4:10. If they fall.] Not both together, but if one or the other falls. Ecclesiastes 4:12. A threefold cord.] Two cords would only suggest plurality, but three give the idea of strength. MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Ecclesiastes 4:7-12PORTRAIT OF A MAMMON WORSHIPPERInstead of using the gifts of fortune wisely, and gaining favour with mankind, some only increase their misery by depriving life of its proper happiness. Here is the picture of a man who is possessed... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Ecclesiastes 4:1-5:7 I. In the fourth chapter Koheleth comes to the conclusion that life is essentially and irretrievably wretched wretched not because (as he had formerly thought) it would so soon be over, but wretched because it lasted too long. All that pleasure did for him was thus to increase his gloom. There was one thing he had forgotten in making out his programme: he had forgotten the miseries of other people. The prosperity he secured for himself did not remove their adversity, but... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Chapter 4So I returned, and I considered all of the oppressions that are done under the sun: and the tears of those that are oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter ( Ecclesiastes 4:1 ).The philosophy, Might is right.Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead, more than the living which were yet alive ( Ecclesiastes 4:2 ).I looked at life and, man, you're better off dead than you are alive. Those that have... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Ecclesiastes 4:2 . Wherefore I praised the dead more than the living, who are robbed, fleeced, and exposed to incessant afflictions, from oppression and war. Solomon alludes to extreme cases, such as our Saviour foretold would befal the Jews in their revolt against the Romans; when men should say, Blessed are the breasts that never gave suck. The like times were foretold of the Romans, in their civil wars, and in the scourge of the Saracens, that men should seek death, and it should flee... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.The necessity and benefits of religious societyI. Prove the truth of the wise man’s assertion, that, “two are better than one, and that in reference to society in general, and religious societies in particular.” And how can this be done better than by showing that it is absolutely necessary for the welfare both of the bodies and souls of men? Indeed, if we look upon man as he came out of the hands of... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Ecclesiastes 4:12

Ecclesiastes 4:12A threefold cord is not quickly broken.A threefold cordI have read somewhere that the ancient Thebans had in their army a band of men who were pledged to friendship and fellowship with each other. They were therefore almost irresistible; they held together by a union caused by a living principle that suffused and inspired them all, therefore when the enemy came upon them it was like the sea breaking on the unmovable strand. If we as church members and fellow-Christians are thus... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:9

Ecc 4:9 Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Ver. 9. Two are better than one. ] Friendly society is far beyond that wretched "aloneness" of the covetous wretch; Ecc 4:8 he "joins house to house and land to land, that he may live alone in the midst of the earth." Isa 5:8 “Quin sine rivali, seque et sua solus amato.” - Horat. Let him enjoy his moping solitariness, if he can. "It is not good for man to be alone," saith God; Gen 2:18 and he that loves to... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:10

Ecc 4:10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up. Ver. 10. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. ] Provided that they hold together and be both of a mind. That which is stronger shoreth up that which is weaker. While Latimer and Rid ley lived, they kept up Cranmer, by intercourse of letters and otherwise, from entertaining counsels of revolt. Bishop Ridley, being prisoner in the... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:11

Ecc 4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]? Ver. 11. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat. ] Heat of zeal and good affection. "Did not our hearts burn within us," said those two disciples, when Christ once made the third with them, and by holy conference kindled them. Luk 24:32 So when Silas and Timotheus came from Macedonia, Paul was "pressed in spirit." Act 18:5 Warm he was before, but now all of a light fire, as it were. Those dull... read more

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