Ecclesiastes 4:10

For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The author of Ecclesiastes addresses a general audience, using observed human experience to illustrate mutual dependence in daily life.

The words — The Hebrew יִפֹּ֔לוּ (yi.Po.lu) means "they will fall down" and יָקִ֣ים (ya.Kim) means "he will raise," establishing a literal sequence of collapse and physical intervention.

The thread — The New Testament applies this mutual support in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:18, while Isaiah 35:3 extends the physical imagery to communal encouragement.

Why it lands — The text states that a person who falls without a companion faces an unresolvable disaster. This demands a practical acknowledgment of human vulnerability and the necessity of immediate mutual aid.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֣יkithat אִם־'im-except יִפֹּ֔לוּyi.Po.luthey will fall down הָאֶחָ֖דha./'e.Chadthe/ one יָקִ֣יםya.Kimhe will raise אֶת־'et-<obj.>חֲבֵר֑וֹcha.ve.R/ocompanion/ his וְאִ֣יל֗וֹve./'I./L/oand/ woe! to/ <the>/ him הָֽאֶחָד֙ha./'e.Chadthe/ one שֶׁיִּפּ֔וֹלshei./yi.Polwho/ <he> will fall down וְאֵ֥יןve./'Einand/ there not שֵׁנִ֖יshe.Ni[is] a second [person]לַהֲקִימֽוֹ׃la./ha.ki.M/oto/ raise/ him

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Isaiah 35:3 Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Job 4:3 Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
1 Samuel 23:16 And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat.
Genesis 4:8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Exodus 32:2 So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
Deuteronomy 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well.