Bible Strands
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Preacher (Qohelet) addresses a general audience within a passage (4:7–12) contrasting solitary toil with cooperative labor. It follows immediately his portrait of the lone man whose work never satisfies (4:8).
The words — שַׂכָּר (sa.Khar) literally means "wages" or "reward for labor"; the verse's claim is not that two are warmer or happier, but that two produce a measurable return that one cannot.
The thread — Genesis 2:18 states the principle ("not good for the man to be alone"), Proverbs 27:17 extends it to mutual sharpening, and 1 Corinthians 12:18 reframes it as God's design for the body of Christ.
Why it lands — It reduces the question of companionship to a functional one: labor without a partner is structurally inefficient, not merely lonely. The reader is asked to examine whether their own work is done in isolation and what that costs.
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
King James Version
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
- Genesis 2:18 The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
- Numbers 11:14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; it is too burdensome for me.
- Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
- John 4:36 Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.
- Ruth 2:12 May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
- Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- Exodus 4:14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
- Haggai 1:14 So the LORD stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began the work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God,