Ecclesiastes 4 reflects on the oppression and loneliness in life, highlighting the vanity of labour and envy. Solomon emphasises the value of companionship, as “two are better than one,” and criticises the fleeting nature of power and popularity without lasting purpose.
Two, Better than One
The message in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 is clear: two are better than one. Life was never meant to be lived in isolation. The Message version beautifully captures this in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
“It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, but if there’s no one to help, tough! Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself, you’re unprotected. With a friend, you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.”
This passage reminds us that partnership and companionship offer strength, support, and protection. Without the presence of others, achieving even the simplest goals becomes harder. Ecclesiastes 4:9 (ESV) says: “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil.”
From the very beginning, God knew it wasn’t good for man to be alone. Genesis 2:18 (ESV) echoes this sentiment: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Companionship allows us to lean on each other, as we see in Ecclesiastes 4:10 (ESV): “For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
Together, we not only accomplish more, but we also carry each other’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 (ESV) teaches us to: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” In moments of difficulty or challenge, having someone by your side makes the load lighter. Achieving anything together requires mutual understanding. Amos 3:3 (KJV) emphasises the necessity of agreement in unity: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
When two or more unite, God’s power is magnified. Deuteronomy 32:30 (ESV) asks: “How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had given them up?” Moreover, the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:19-20 (MSG) promise that when we unite in prayer and agreement: “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
God’s original design for humanity was unity—with one another and with Him. Sin separated us from this unity, but Jesus came to restore it. His sacrifice reconnects us, not only to God but also to one another, strengthening our relationships.
Finally, Ecclesiastes 4:12 (AMP) concludes by illustrating the strength of unity: “And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” When we build our relationships with God at the centre, like a three-stranded cord, we become unbreakable. With God as the third strand, our bonds become stronger, helping us face life’s challenges with unshakeable support.