Ecclesiastes 4:9
Verse
Context
The Evil of Oppression
8There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
Sermons




Summary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"Better are two together than one, seeing they have a good reward in their labour." By hashshenaim, the author refers to such a pair; haehhad is one such as is just described. The good reward consists in this, that each one of the two has the pleasant consciousness of doing good to the other by his labour, and especially of being helpful to him. In this latter general sense is grounded the idea of the reward of faithful fellowship:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Two--opposed to "one" (Ecc 4:8). Ties of union, marriage, friendship, religious communion, are better than the selfish solitariness of the miser (Gen 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.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Two are better than one,.... The wise man takes occasion, from the solitariness Of the covetous man before described, to show in this and some following verses the preferableness and advantages of social life; which, as it holds true in things natural and civil, so in things spiritual and religious; man is a sociable creature, was made to be so; and it was the judgment of God, which is according to truth, and who can never err, that it was not good for man to be alone, Gen 2:18. It is best to take a wife, or at least to have a friend or companion, more or less to converse with. Society is preferable to solitariness; conversation with a friend is better than to be always alone; the Targum is, "two righteous men in a generation are better than one;'' such may be helpful to each other in their counsels and comforts, and mutual aids and assistances in things temporal and spiritual. The Midrash interprets this of the study in the law together, and of two that trade together, which is better than studying or trading separately; because they have a good reward for their labour; the pleasure and profit they have in each other's company and conversation; in religious societies, though there is a labour in attendance on public worship, in praying and conferring together, in serving one another in love, and bearing one another's burdens, yet they have a good reward in it all; they have the presence of Christ with them, for, where two or three are met together in his name, he is with them; and whatsoever two of them agree to ask in his name they have it; and if two of them converse together about spiritual things, it is much if he does not make a third with them; besides they have a great deal of pleasure in each other's company, and much profit in their mutual instructions, advices, and reproofs; they sharpen each other's countenances, quicken and comfort each other's souls, establish one another in divine truth, and strengthen each other's hands and hearts.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:9-12 Two people are better off than one: The solitary man (4:8) brings to mind the advantages of partnerships for business and for personal well-being.
Ecclesiastes 4:9
The Evil of Oppression
8There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Conversation Worthy of Christ
By David Wilkerson6.3K59:23WorthyECC 4:9MAT 7:3MAT 18:19ROM 14:19GAL 5:16COL 3:8TIT 2:3In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having pure hearts and minds, which can only be achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit. He urges believers to let their conversation be worthy of Christ and his gospel, highlighting the power of words and the impact they can have on others. The preacher warns against covetousness and the dangers of allowing material desires to consume one's thoughts and conversations. He concludes by emphasizing that Satan is using conversation as a tool to ruin lives, both in the world and in the church. The sermon is a pastoral message aimed at the congregation, but it is also intended for a wider audience through video and audio recordings.
(God and Man) Building Fellowship in Christ's Body
By Zac Poonen2.4K56:08ECC 4:9MAT 6:33EPH 4:14JAS 4:6In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not comparing oneself to others, but rather comparing oneself to what they could have been with the resources of God's grace. The speaker references Ecclesiastes 4:9, which states that two are better than one and can accomplish more together. The sermon also discusses the need for spiritual growth and maturity, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:14. The speaker highlights the importance of having a realistic understanding of one's own abilities and not overestimating oneself. Additionally, the sermon addresses the issue of seeking validation from others and encourages individuals to have a humble perspective of themselves.
Unreached Peoples: The Tribes of Myanmar Burma the Kachin
By Paul Hattaway50700:00PRO 27:17ECC 4:9This sermon reflects on the significance of Lido Road as a vital connection during World War II, highlighting the confluence of the Eawri river flowing towards the Sea of Andaman. It explores the native Kachin villages' utilization of water power for energy generation and the abundance of jade mines in the region, contributing significantly to the economy. The cooperation between private companies and government authorities in jade mining is emphasized, showcasing mutual benefits. Additionally, the scene at the confluence where Kachin girls engage in cultural activities symbolizes the rich heritage and traditions of the Kachin people.
Marriage in the Lord
By J.B. Stoney0PRO 27:17ECC 4:9EPH 4:2COL 3:131PE 4:8J.B. Stoney preaches about the beauty and depth of true married life in the Lord, emphasizing that trials in marriage can actually strengthen the bond between couples if they face them together in communion with God. He highlights the importance of seeking spiritual intimacy, confessing faults to one another, and sharing both humblings and thanksgivings before the Lord. Stoney encourages couples to cultivate a relationship where they respect and wait for each other's judgment and feelings in all things, deepening their affection as they draw on God's grace for one another.
Sanctification, Fellowship and Unity in Diversity
By Zac Poonen0PRO 27:17ECC 4:9JHN 17:21ACT 2:42ROM 12:41CO 12:12GAL 6:2PHP 2:1HEB 10:241JN 1:7Zac Poonen preaches on the significance of fellowship in the new covenant, emphasizing that it mirrors the intimate fellowship between Jesus and the Father. He highlights that under the old covenant, despite great holiness, people could not experience true fellowship. The new covenant brings believers into inward sanctification, leading to genuine fellowship with one another, as seen in the unity and partnership among the apostles in the early church.
Thou Shalt Be Missed, Because Thy Seat
By F.B. Meyer0PresenceCommitment to Family and Church1SA 20:18PSA 122:1ECC 4:9MAT 18:20HEB 10:25F.B. Meyer emphasizes the significance of presence in both family and church settings, using the example of David's empty seat to illustrate the void left by those who are absent. He urges individuals to prioritize their roles within the family unit, warning against leaving seats empty for trivial reasons, as it causes pain to loved ones. Meyer also highlights the importance of attending church services, noting that each empty seat represents a loss in collective worship and fellowship. He encourages believers to ensure their presence at sacred gatherings, as their absence is felt and impacts the spiritual atmosphere. Ultimately, Meyer calls for faithfulness in fulfilling our commitments to both family and God.
For Better or Worse
By J.R. Miller0MarriageCommunicationECC 4:9J.R. Miller emphasizes the importance of open communication and sharing burdens in marriage, highlighting how many couples waste the blessings of love by failing to confide in one another. He illustrates that husbands often shield their wives from struggles, believing it to be a kindness, but this can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of support. Miller argues that true marital unity requires sharing both joys and sorrows, as this deepens the bond between partners. He encourages couples to rebuild their relationship if it has faltered, reminding them that with God's help, they can create a more beautiful union than before. Ultimately, he calls for a marriage that reflects the divine ideal of partnership and mutual support.
Discipleship and Marriage
By William MacDonald0MarriageDiscipleshipGEN 1:28GEN 2:18PRO 18:22ECC 4:9MAT 5:13MAT 19:12LUK 14:281CO 7:21CO 7:32HEB 13:4William MacDonald addresses the complex relationship between discipleship and marriage, emphasizing that while marriage is a divine institution meant for companionship, procreation, and purity, it is not a universal calling for every disciple. He highlights that some may choose celibacy to serve Christ more fully, underscoring the importance of individual guidance from God in this decision. MacDonald warns against the distractions that marriage can bring, urging believers to prioritize their commitment to Christ above all else. He encourages counting the cost of discipleship, reminding that true followers must be willing to forsake everything for the sake of the Gospel. Ultimately, he calls for a life dedicated to glorifying God, free from the entanglements of worldly desires.
Choosing Our Friends
By J.R. Miller0FriendshipInfluence of CompanionshipPRO 27:17ECC 4:9J.R. Miller emphasizes the vital role of friendship in our lives, particularly during times of sorrow and suffering. He illustrates that true companionship not only provides comfort but also inspires us to grow and strive for our best selves. The sermon highlights the importance of choosing friends wisely, as they significantly influence our character and future. Miller encourages young people to seek friendships that uplift and challenge them, while also reminding us of our responsibility to be a positive influence on others. Ultimately, he points to Christ as the ultimate friend who fulfills our deepest needs and offers everlasting companionship.
(Sex, Love & Marriage) 5. Two Shall Become One
By Zac Poonen0GEN 2:18PSA 78:5ECC 4:9MAT 19:31CO 7:2EPH 5:221TI 4:1HEB 13:4REV 19:7Zac Poonen preaches on the beauty of unity in marriage, contrasting harmonious Christian couples with those who lack understanding and oneness, leading to misery. He emphasizes the importance of obeying God's Word in marriage to ensure success and happiness. Poonen delves into God's design for marriage, highlighting companionship, the establishment of a home, and sexual fulfillment as key purposes ordained by God. He also discusses the symbolism of marriage, drawing parallels between the husband-wife relationship and Christ-Church relationship, stressing the need for mutual love, respect, and self-sacrifice.
(A Heavenly Home) 2. Make Three Choices in Your Marriage
By Zac Poonen0ECC 4:9Zac Poonen delivers a powerful message at the wedding of Santosh and Meghan, emphasizing the importance of seeking guidance from the Bible in all aspects of life, especially in marriage. Drawing from the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, he highlights the crucial choices couples must make to have a happy marriage as ordained by God. Poonen stresses the significance of being centered in God, accepting one another without masks, and doing things together to overcome the challenges posed by Satan, ultimately leading to a marriage filled with God's love and unity.
Matthew 10:1-7. He Sends Out His Twelve Apostles.
By Favell Lee Mortimer0ECC 4:9ISA 66:2MAT 9:38MRK 6:7MRK 16:152CO 6:22PE 3:9Favell Lee Mortimer preaches about Jesus sending out the twelve disciples to preach the word, emphasizing the importance of having fellow laborers in Christ's vineyard for support and companionship. Despite the anxiety of leaving Jesus' side, the disciples were empowered by their ever-present Lord to perform miracles and deliver a new message. Jesus instructed them to preach to the Jews first, as they were beloved for the fathers' sakes, and to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, urging people to seize the opportunity for salvation before it's too late.
Letters
By J.C. Philpot0PRO 27:9ECC 4:9COL 3:161TH 5:11HEB 10:24J.C. Philpot emphasizes the intimate and heartfelt nature of letters, particularly those exchanged between beloved friends in the Lord, as they reveal the writer's deepest experiences and emotions. These letters, not meant for public consumption, offer a unique sweetness and power in their freedom of communication and sincerity. Philpot highlights how letters by saints and servants of God are specially crafted for private reading, allowing readers to engage with them at their own pace and convenience, providing comfort and encouragement.
Jonathan and His Armour-Bearer.
By Andrew Bonar0The Power of UnityCompanionship in Ministry1SA 14:6ECC 4:9Andrew Bonar emphasizes the significance of companionship in ministry through the story of Jonathan and his unnamed Armour-bearer. He highlights that God often works through pairs, illustrating this with biblical examples, and suggests that working together not only strengthens faith but also fosters a sense of community and support. Bonar notes that the presence of another can enhance one's courage and effectiveness in spiritual endeavors, as seen in the victories achieved by Jonathan and his Armour-bearer. He encourages believers to recognize the importance of collaboration in their faith journeys, as it combats pride and promotes brotherly love.
The Necessity and Benefits of Religious Society
By George Whitefield0GEN 2:18PRO 27:17ECC 4:9MAT 18:201CO 15:33GAL 6:11TH 5:11HEB 10:24JAS 5:161PE 5:8George Whitefield preaches on the importance and benefits of religious society, emphasizing the wisdom in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that 'two are better than one.' He highlights the necessity of assembling together in religious societies for the welfare of both bodies and souls, drawing from the creation of Adam and the need for companionship. Whitefield stresses the duty of mutual reproof, exhortation, and defending each other within a religious society, pointing out the dangers of neglecting to gather together for spiritual growth and support. He urges Christians to establish and promote societies that strengthen piety and virtue, while warning against supporting gatherings that lead away from true religion. The sermon concludes with an exhortation for members to walk circumspectly, ensuring their practice aligns with their profession, and to continue in sincere discipleship of Christ.
Getting Help From People
By J.R. Miller0Christian FellowshipMutual SupportPRO 27:17ECC 4:9J.R. Miller emphasizes the vital role of human relationships in the Christian life, illustrating how God uses people as instruments of His grace and love. He explains that every believer is called to be an interpreter of Christ, sharing blessings and support with one another. Miller highlights the importance of fellowship, stating that Christians grow best in community, where mutual encouragement and accountability thrive. He also notes that even challenges in relationships serve as opportunities for spiritual growth and character development. Ultimately, he encourages believers to embrace their roles in uplifting others, as serving leads to being served in return.
The Christian Religion and the Human Race
By Olin Alfred Curtis0ECC 4:9JHN 13:34ROM 12:41CO 12:12GAL 6:2Olin Alfred Curtis preaches about the social nature of man, emphasizing the natural principle of attraction that leads to relationships and the importance of fraternity as a Christian idea. He highlights the individuality emphasized by company, where each person contributes to the racial brotherhood of moral persons, and the significance of personal loneliness and the need for social fellowship. Curtis discusses the Christian method of social life, the racial nexus through the human body, and the Christian aim to save individuals in a way that leads to a racial brotherhood of moral persons.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"Better are two together than one, seeing they have a good reward in their labour." By hashshenaim, the author refers to such a pair; haehhad is one such as is just described. The good reward consists in this, that each one of the two has the pleasant consciousness of doing good to the other by his labour, and especially of being helpful to him. In this latter general sense is grounded the idea of the reward of faithful fellowship:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Two--opposed to "one" (Ecc 4:8). Ties of union, marriage, friendship, religious communion, are better than the selfish solitariness of the miser (Gen 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.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Two are better than one,.... The wise man takes occasion, from the solitariness Of the covetous man before described, to show in this and some following verses the preferableness and advantages of social life; which, as it holds true in things natural and civil, so in things spiritual and religious; man is a sociable creature, was made to be so; and it was the judgment of God, which is according to truth, and who can never err, that it was not good for man to be alone, Gen 2:18. It is best to take a wife, or at least to have a friend or companion, more or less to converse with. Society is preferable to solitariness; conversation with a friend is better than to be always alone; the Targum is, "two righteous men in a generation are better than one;'' such may be helpful to each other in their counsels and comforts, and mutual aids and assistances in things temporal and spiritual. The Midrash interprets this of the study in the law together, and of two that trade together, which is better than studying or trading separately; because they have a good reward for their labour; the pleasure and profit they have in each other's company and conversation; in religious societies, though there is a labour in attendance on public worship, in praying and conferring together, in serving one another in love, and bearing one another's burdens, yet they have a good reward in it all; they have the presence of Christ with them, for, where two or three are met together in his name, he is with them; and whatsoever two of them agree to ask in his name they have it; and if two of them converse together about spiritual things, it is much if he does not make a third with them; besides they have a great deal of pleasure in each other's company, and much profit in their mutual instructions, advices, and reproofs; they sharpen each other's countenances, quicken and comfort each other's souls, establish one another in divine truth, and strengthen each other's hands and hearts.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:9-12 Two people are better off than one: The solitary man (4:8) brings to mind the advantages of partnerships for business and for personal well-being.