Ecclesiastes 4:11

11 Again, if two people lie down together, they can keep warm, but how can one person keep warm?

Ecclesiastes 4:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 4:11

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat
The Targum adds, in the winter; when it is a cold season, they warm one another by lying together. The Targum interprets it of a man and his wife; it is true of others; see ( 1 Kings 1:1 1 Kings 1:2 ) ; but how can one be warm [alone]?
not soon, nor easily, in time of cold weather. This is true in a spiritual sense of persons in a Christian communion and religious society; when they are grown cold in their love, lukewarm in their affections, and backward and indifferent to spiritual exercises, yet by Christian conversation may be stirred up to love and good works: so two cold flints struck against each other, fire comes out of them; and even two cold Christians, when they come to talk with each other about spiritual things, and feel one another's spirits, they presently glow in their affections to each other, and to divine things; and especially if Christ joins them with his presence, as he did the two disciples going to Emmaus, then their hearts burn within them.

Ecclesiastes 4:11 In-Context

9 Two people are better than one because [together] they have a good reward for their hard work.
10 If one falls, the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for the one who is [all] alone when he falls. There is no one to help him get up.
11 Again, if two people lie down together, they can keep warm, but how can one person keep warm?
12 Though one person may be overpowered by another, two people can resist one opponent. A triple-braided rope is not easily broken.
13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than an old, foolish king who won't take advice any longer.
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