Ecclesiastes 4:12

And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The Teacher addresses a general audience in Ecclesiastes, positioning this observation between a practical example of mutual warmth and a political comparison about leadership.

The words — יִתְקְפּוֹ֙ (yit.qe.F/o) literally means “will overpower him,” and הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ (ha/m.shu.Lash) translates directly as “threefold.”

The thread — The pattern of triadic strength appears when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand before Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:16), when Paul commands preserving unity through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3), and when Eleazar fights alongside David’s three mighty men (2 Samuel 23:9).

Why it lands — The text requires readers to reject isolation and actively align with others, noting that combined force and deliberate unity resist defeat.

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

וְאִֽם־ve./'im-and/ though יִתְקְפוֹ֙yit.ke.F/osomeone will overpower/ him הָאֶחָ֔דha./'e.Chadthe/ one [person]הַשְּׁנַ֖יִםha./she.Na.yimthe/ two [people]יַעַמְד֣וּya.'am.Duthey will stand נֶגְדּ֑וֹneg.D/obefore/ him וְהַחוּט֙ve./ha./Chutand/ the/ thread הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁha/m.shu.Lash<the>/ threefold לֹ֥אlo'not בִמְהֵרָ֖הvi/m.he.Rah<in>/ quickly יִנָּתֵֽק׃yi.na.Tekit will be torn apart

King James Version

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Cross-references

Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Ephesians 4:3 and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
2 Samuel 23:9 Next 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 of Israel retreated,
2 Samuel 23:23 He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.
2 Samuel 23:18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.
2 Samuel 23:16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,