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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 4:8–9

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
¶ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 29 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 8

  1. 1 John 2:16Rank 1 from verse 8
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    16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  2. Proverbs 27:20Rank 2 from verse 8
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    20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

  3. Luke 12:20Rank 3 from verse 8
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    20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  4. Ecclesiastes 1:8Rank 4 from verse 8
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    8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

  5. Ecclesiastes 1:13Rank 5 from verse 8
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    13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

  6. Matthew 11:28Rank 6 from verse 8
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    28¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

  7. Ecclesiastes 4:9–12Rank 7 from verse 8
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    9¶ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

    10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

    11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

    12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

  8. Ecclesiastes 5:10Rank 8 from verse 8
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    10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

  9. Genesis 2:18Rank 9 from verse 8
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    18¶ And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

  10. Isaiah 5:8Rank 10 from verse 8
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    8¶ Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!

  11. Isaiah 56:3–5Rank 11 from verse 8
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    3¶ Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

    4For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

    5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

  12. Psalms 39:6Rank 12 from verse 8
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    6Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  13. Ecclesiastes 2:23Rank 13 from verse 8
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    23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

  14. Genesis 15:2–3Rank 14 from verse 8
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    2And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

    3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

  15. Habakkuk 2:5–9Rank 15 from verse 8
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    5¶ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

    6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

    7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

    8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

    9¶ Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

  16. Isaiah 44:19–20Rank 16 from verse 8
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    19And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

    20He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

  17. Isaiah 55:2Rank 17 from verse 8
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    2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

From verse 9

  1. Proverbs 27:17Rank 1 from verse 9
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    17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

  2. Genesis 2:18Rank 2 from verse 9
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    18¶ And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

  3. 1 Corinthians 12:18–21Rank 3 from verse 9
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    18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

    19And if they were all one member, where were the body?

    20But now are they many members, yet but one body.

    21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

  4. Mark 6:7Rank 4 from verse 9
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    7¶ And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

  5. Numbers 11:14Rank 5 from verse 9
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    14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

  6. John 4:36Rank 6 from verse 9
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    36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

  7. Ruth 2:12Rank 7 from verse 9
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    12The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

  8. Acts 13:2Rank 8 from verse 9
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    2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

  9. Exodus 4:14–16Rank 9 from verse 9
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    14And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

    15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

    16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

  10. Haggai 1:14Rank 10 from verse 9
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    14And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,

  11. 2 John 1:8Rank 11 from verse 9
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    8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

  12. Acts 15:39–40Rank 12 from verse 9
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    39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

    40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 4:8

COMBINED MEANING

alone

↗

1. Without others, company, or help; by oneself. 2. Only or solely. 3. In "let ... alone," to leave undisturbed or refrain from interfering with.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

yea

↗

1. Indeed, marking confirmation, emphasis, addition, continuation, or heightening of what is said; it may also emphasize a question. 2. Yes, expressing an affirmative answer or declaration.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

neither

↗

1. Also not; nor, introducing or joining a further negative statement or prohibition. 2. Not either, or none, of the alternatives named, commonly in a neither ... nor construction.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

brother

↗

Sense 1: A male sibling; a near kinsman. Sense 2: A fellow member of a people or faith.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yet

↗

1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

end

↗

Sense 1: The last or concluding part, termination, or limit. Sense 2: A purpose or intended result. Sense 3: As a verb, to cease or bring to a close.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

1. Work, toil, effort, exertion, service, or the product of work. 2. Weariness or trouble. 3. Travail in childbirth. 4. To work, strive, serve, or exert oneself.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

eye

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ of sight; by extension, sight or seeing. Sense 2: Regard, judgment, disposition, or watchful attention, expressed figuratively by the eye. Sense 3: A small opening, as the eye of a needle. Sense 4: To watch or regard.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

satisfied

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of satisfy (to fill, content, supply sufficiently, or meet what is required).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

whom

↗

The objective form of who, referring to the person or persons acted upon or related to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bereave

↗

To deprive; to strip; to make destitute; with of before the thing taken away.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

soul

↗

Sense 1: A living person or creature; a life or self. Sense 2: The inward self distinguished from the body. Sense 3: The seat of desire or appetite.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

vanity

↗

Emptiness, futility, worthlessness, falsehood, unreliability, or transience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sore

↗

Sense 1: Painful, grievous, severe, or causing distress. Sense 2: Greatly, exceedingly, or intensely. Sense 3: A wound, ulcer, or tender or diseased place.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

travail

↗

Sense 1: The painful labour and anguish of childbirth. Sense 2: To undergo such labour. Sense 3: Severe toil, trouble, sorrow, or suffering.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 4:9

COMBINED MEANING

better

↗

Sense 1: More excellent, more fitting, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To improve or make better.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

reward

↗

Sense 1: A benefit, payment, honour, punishment, or recompense given or received. Sense 2: As a verb, to give such a return.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

1. Work, toil, effort, exertion, service, or the product of work. 2. Weariness or trouble. 3. Travail in childbirth. 4. To work, strive, serve, or exert oneself.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Ecclesiastes 4:7–12

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

4:7¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

4:8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Selected passage

4:9¶ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

Selected passage

4:10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

4:11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

4:12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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