Ecclesiastes 4:11

11 et si dormierint duo fovebuntur mutuo unus quomodo calefiet

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 melius ergo est duos simul esse quam unum habent enim emolumentum societatis suae
10 si unus ceciderit ab altero fulcietur vae soli quia cum ruerit non habet sublevantem
11 et si dormierint duo fovebuntur mutuo unus quomodo calefiet
12 et si quispiam praevaluerit contra unum duo resistent ei funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur
13 melior est puer pauper et sapiens rege sene et stulto qui nescit providere in posterum
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.