KJV King James Version
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
WEB World English Bible
If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
ASV American Standard Version
And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.
Surrounding context — Ecclesiastes 4
9 Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
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.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better [is] a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
וְאִֽם־H518 · imifיִתְקְפוֹ֙H8630 · ta.qaphto prevailהָאֶחָ֔דH259 · e.chadoneהַשְּׁנַ֖יִםH8147 · she.na.yimtwoיַעַמְד֣וּH5975 · a.madto stand: standנֶגְדּ֑וֹH5048 · ne.gedbeforeוְהַחוּט֙H2339 · chutthreadהַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁH8027 · sha.lashto do threeלֹ֥אH3808 · lonotבִמְהֵרָ֖הH4120 · me.he.rahhasteיִנָּתֵֽק׃H5423 · na.taqto tear
Cross-references
Ephesians 4:3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.Daniel 3:16-17Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.2 Samuel 23:9And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines [that] were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:2 Samuel 23:18-19And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, [and] slew [them], and had the name among three.2 Samuel 23:23He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.2 Samuel 23:16And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that [was] by the gate, and took [it], and brought [it] to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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