The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 4:12 Explained

Ecclesiastes 4:12

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

YLT: And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.

Darby: And if a man overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

ASV: And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ecclesiastes 4:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 4

1  vanity is increased unto men by oppression
4  by envy
5  by idleness
7  by covetousness
9  by solitariness
13  by willfulness

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 4:12 mean?

And Though may be overpowered by another one two can withstand him and a cord threefold not quickly is broken
וְאִֽם־ יִתְקְפוֹ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם יַעַמְד֣וּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ וְהַחוּט֙ הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ לֹ֥א בִמְהֵרָ֖ה יִנָּתֵֽק

וְאִֽם־  And  Though 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
יִתְקְפוֹ֙  may  be  overpowered  by  another 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: תָּקַף  
Sense: (Qal) to prevail over or against, overcome, overpower.
הָאֶחָ֔ד  one 
Parse: Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם  two 
Parse: Article, Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
יַעַמְד֣וּ  can  withstand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
וְהַחוּט֙  and  a  cord 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּט  
Sense: a thread, cord, line, string.
הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ  threefold 
Parse: Article, Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַשׁ  
Sense: to do a third time, do three times, divide in three parts.
בִמְהֵרָ֖ה  quickly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: מְהֵרָה  
Sense: haste, speed.
יִנָּתֵֽק  is  broken 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָתַק  
Sense: to pull or tear or draw off or away or apart, draw out, pluck up, break, li ft, root out.