Ecclesiastes 4:11

11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.

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 It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth.
10 And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there's no one to help, tough!
11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.
12 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.
13 A poor youngster with some wisdom is better off than an old but foolish king who doesn't know which end is up.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.