Ecclesiastes 4:10 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When one of two friends falls, the other lifts him up, but the solitary person who falls has no one to raise him.
What Does Ecclesiastes 4:10 Mean?
The Preacher gives the first reason two are better than one: in the stumbles of life, a companion 'will lift up his fellow.' But he pronounces a 'woe' over the one who falls alone, 'for he hath not another to help him up.' The image is of a journey where footing can give way at any moment.
Falling is part of the human road -- through failure, grief, weakness, or sin -- and the gift of a faithful friend is someone to reach down a hand. Scripture calls us to bear one another's burdens and to restore the fallen gently. No one stands so securely that he will never need lifting. The verse urges us both to keep such friends near and to be that lifting hand for others when they go down.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 4:10
What does Ecclesiastes 4:10 mean?
When one of two friends falls, the other lifts him up, but the solitary person who falls has no one to raise him.