Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. New Living Translation A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. English Standard Version And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Berean Standard Bible And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. King James Bible And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. New King James Version Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. New American Standard Bible And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. NASB 1995 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. NASB 1977 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Legacy Standard Bible And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can stand against him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Amplified Bible And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Christian Standard Bible And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Holman Christian Standard Bible And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. 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. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And if one will prevail, two of them will stand against him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken Brenton Septuagint Translation And if one should prevail against him, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken. Contemporary English Version Someone might be able to beat up one of you, but not both of you. As the saying goes, "A rope made from three strands of cord is hard to break." Douay-Rheims Bible And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken. English Revised Version And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. GOD'S WORD® Translation Though one person may be overpowered by another, two people can resist one opponent. A triple-braided rope is not easily broken. Good News Translation Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break. International Standard Version If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken. JPS Tanakh 1917 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Literal Standard Version And if the one strengthens himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not quickly broken. Majority Standard Bible And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. New American Bible Where one alone may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken. NET Bible Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. New Revised Standard Version And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. New Heart English Bible If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Webster's Bible Translation And if one prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken. World English Bible If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Young's Literal Translation And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken. Additional Translations ... Context The Evil of Oppression…11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? 12And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Cross References Ecclesiastes 4:11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? Ecclesiastes 4:13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. Treasury of Scripture And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. and if 2 Samuel 23:9,16,18,19,23 And 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: … Daniel 3:16,17 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter… Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Jump to Previous Alone Apart Attacked Broken Cord Cords Defend Hastily Overpower Overpowered Prevail Prevaileth Prevails Quickly Resist Safe Stand Strands Strengthen Themselves Three Together Torn Twisted WithstandJump to Next Alone Apart Attacked Broken Cord Cords Defend Hastily Overpower Overpowered Prevail Prevaileth Prevails Quickly Resist Safe Stand Strands Strengthen Themselves Three Together Torn Twisted WithstandEcclesiastes 4 1. vanity is increased unto men by oppression4. by envy 5. by idleness 7. by covetousness 9. by solitariness 13. by willfulness Verse 12. - The third instance shows the value of the protection afforded by a companion's presence when danger threatens. If one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; better, if a man overpower the solitary one, the two (ver. 9) will withstand him. The idea of the traveler is continued. If he were attacked by robbers, he would be easily overpowered when alone; but two comrades might successfully resist the assault. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. This is probably a proverbial saying, like our "Union is strength." Hereby the advantage of association is more strongly enforced. If the companionship of two is profitable, much more is this the case when more combine. The cord of three strands was the strongest made. The number three is used as the symbol of completeness and perfection. Funiculus triplex diffcile rumpitur, the Vulgate rendering, has become a trite saying; and the gnome has been constantly applied in a mystical or spiritual sense, with which, originally and humanly speaking, it has no concern. Herein is seen an adumbration of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the Eternal Three in One; of the three Christian virtues, faith, hope, and charity, which go to make the Christian life; of the Christian's body, soul, and spirit, which are consecrated as a temple of the Most High. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And thoughוְאִֽם־ (wə·’im-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not one הָאֶחָ֔ד (hā·’e·ḥāḏ) Article | Number - masculine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first may be overpowered, יִתְקְפוֹ֙ (yiṯ·qə·p̄ōw) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 8630: To prevail over, overpower two הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם (haš·šə·na·yim) Article | Number - md Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) can resist. יַעַמְד֣וּ (ya·‘am·ḏū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations Moreover, a cord וְהַחוּט֙ (wə·ha·ḥūṭ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2339: A string, a measuring tape of three הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ (ham·šul·lāš) Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 8027: To do a third time, divide into three parts strands is not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no quickly בִמְהֵרָ֖ה (ḇim·hê·rāh) Preposition-b | Adverb Strong's 4120: A hurry, promptly broken. יִנָּתֵֽק׃ (yin·nā·ṯêq) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5423: To pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off Links Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIVEcclesiastes 4:12 NLT Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV Ecclesiastes 4:12 NASB Ecclesiastes 4:12 KJV Ecclesiastes 4:12 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 4:12 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 4:12 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 4:12 French Bible Ecclesiastes 4:12 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 4:12 If a man prevails against one who (Ecclesiast. 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