Ecclesiastes 4:12
Strong's Lexicon
And though
וְאִֽם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's Hebrew 518: 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather

one
הָאֶחָ֔ד (hā·’e·ḥāḏ)
Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 259: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)

may be overpowered,
יִתְקְפוֹ֙ (yiṯ·qə·p̄ōw)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 8630: 1) (Qal) to prevail over or against, overcome, overpower

two
הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם (haš·šə·na·yim)
Article | Number - md
Strong's Hebrew 8147: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)

can resist
יַעַמְד֣וּ (ya·‘am·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew 5975: 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against 1a7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to station, set 1b2) to cause to stand firm, maintain 1b3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect 1b4) to present (one) before (king) 1b5) to appoint, ordain, establish 1c) (Hophal) to be presented, be caused to stand, be stood before

Moreover, a cord
וְהַחוּט֙ (wə·ha·ḥūṭ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2339: 1) a thread, cord, line, string

of three
הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ (ham·šul·lāš)
Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 8027: 1) to do a third time, do three times, divide in three parts 1a) (Piel) to do a third time, divide into three parts 1b) (Pual) to be three years of age, be threefold

strands is not
לֹ֥א ()
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's Hebrew 3808: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time)

quickly
בִמְהֵרָ֖ה (ḇim·hê·rāh)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's Hebrew 4120: 1) haste, speed 1a) hastily, speedily (as adverb) 1b) in haste (with prep)

broken.
יִנָּתֵֽק׃ (yin·nā·ṯêq)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 5423: 1) to pull or tear or draw off or away or apart, draw out, pluck up, break, lift, root out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to draw away 1a2) to draw or pull off 1a3) to pull or tear away 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be drawn away, be drawn out 1b2) to be torn apart or in two, be snapped 1b3) to be separated 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to tear apart, snap 1c2) to tear out, tear up, tear away 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to draw away 1d2) to drag away 1e) (Hophal) to be drawn away

Parallel Strong's
Berean Study Bible
And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Young's Literal Translation
And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

New American Standard Bible
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three [strands] is not quickly torn apart.

King James Bible
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Parallel Verses
New International Version
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

New Living Translation
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

English Standard Version
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

New American Standard Bible
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

International Standard Version
If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken.

NET Bible
Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

American Standard Version
And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

English Revised Version
And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Young's Literal Translation
And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.
















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

Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Ecclesiastes 1:1
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Ecclesiastes 4:10
For 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.

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

Ecclesiastes 4:14
For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

Ecclesiastes 4:15
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
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Alone Apart Attacked Broken Cord Cords Defend Hastily Overpower Overpowered Prevail Prevaileth Prevails Quickly Resist Safe Stand Strands Strengthen Themselves Three Together Torn Twisted Withstand
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