Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Ecclesiastes 4:9

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

Two [are] better than one,.... The wise man takes occasion, from the solitariness Of the covetous man before described, to show in this and some following verses the preferableness and advantages of social life; which, as it holds true in things natural and civil, so in things spiritual and religious; man is a sociable creature, was made to be so; and it was the judgment of God, which is according to truth, and who can never err, that it was not good for man to be alone, .

It is best to take a wife, or at least to have a friend or companion, more or less to converse with. Society is preferable to solitariness; conversation with a friend is better than to be always alone; the Targum is,"two righteous men in a generation are better than one;''such may be helpful to each other in their counsels and comforts, and mutual aids and assistances in things temporal and spiritual.

The Daily Devotional

One devotional. Every morning.

The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.

We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.

Continue tomorrow

Turn Bible study into a daily habit

Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.

Recommended reading

More for Ecclesiastes 4:9

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Ecclesiastes 4 — OverviewEcclesiastes 4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleSolomon, having shown the vanity of this world in the temptation which those in power feel to oppress and trample upon their subjects, here further shows, I. The temptation which the oppressed feel to discontent…Ecclesiastes 4 — OverviewEcclesiastes 4 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeEcclesiastes 4:1, Vanity is increased unto men by oppression; Ecclesiastes 4:4, by envy; Ecclesiastes 4:5, by idleness; Ecclesiastes 4:7, by covetousness; Ecclesiastes 4:9, by solitariness; Ecclesiastes 4:13, by…Ecclesiastes 4 — OverviewEcclesiastes 4 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleIn this chapter the wise man reassumes the consideration of the case of the abuse of power, to show that there is no happiness in this world, in grandeur and authority enjoyed; since, as he had observed before, on the…Ecclesiastes 4:1-16Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITIONEcclesiastes 4:1-16Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 · The Pulpit CommentarySection 5. Koheleth proceeds to give further illustrations of man's inability to be the architect of his own happiness. There are many things which interrupt or destroy it.Ecclesiastes 4:7-12Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHere Solomon fastens upon another instance of the vanity of this world, that frequently the more men have of it the more they would have; and on this they are so intent that they have no enjoyment of what they…