Lexical Summary boéthos: Helper, aid, assistant Original Word: βοηθός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance helper. From boe and theo (to run); a succorer -- helper. see GREEK boe HELPS Word-studies 998 boēthós ( a masculine noun) – a helper bringing the right aid in time, i.e. to meet an urgent, real need. See 997 (boētheō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom boétheó Definition helping, a helper NASB Translation helper (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 998: βοηθόςβοηθός, βοηθόν, helping (νεης, Herodotus 5, 97; στήριγμα, Tobit 8:6); mostly as a substantive (so from Herodotus down) a helper: Hebrews 13:6 (of God, from Psalm 117:7 Topical Lexicon Divine Help as a Biblical Theme Scripture repeatedly presents the living God as the One who comes alongside His people in moments of need. Strong’s Greek 998, βοηθός, encapsulates this truth in a single word—“helper.” From Genesis through Revelation the storyline of redemption is filled with scenes in which human weakness meets divine aid, underscoring that salvation and daily perseverance are always gifts from outside ourselves. Old Testament Background Hebrew writers use עֵזֶר (“ʿēzer”) to speak of God’s covenant faithfulness. Moses blesses Israel by declaring, “The God of Jeshurun rides across the heavens to your help” (Deuteronomy 33:26). David confesses, “Surely God is my helper” (Psalm 54:4), while the pilgrim songs declare, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, βοηθός and its cognates were chosen to convey this rich concept, preparing Greek-speaking believers to recognize the same God of help in the Gospel era. New Testament Occurrence: Hebrews 13:6 “So we say with confidence: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”. Here the writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm 118:6-7, urging persecuted believers to rest in the immutable character of God. The context (Hebrews 13:5-6) links the Lord’s help to contentment and freedom from the love of money: believers can live generously because the Almighty stands ready to intervene. The citation functions pastorally, turning a familiar psalm into a present-tense promise for the church’s trials. Christological Fulfillment Jesus Christ embodies God’s helping presence. Throughout the Gospels He raises the dead, feeds the hungry, and casts out demons, showing in visible form what βοηθός implies. At the cross He offers ultimate assistance—atonement—while His resurrection guarantees that help will never be withdrawn (Romans 8:31-34). Because the Son now “lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25), the assurance of Hebrews 13:6 gains fresh force: the Helper has nail-scarred hands. The Spirit’s Parallels and Distinctions John’s Gospel names the Holy Spirit Παράκλητος (“Parakletos,” Advocate). Though a different term, the ministries overlap. The Spirit internalizes Christ’s help, strengthening believers to pray (Romans 8:26), witness (Acts 1:8), and persevere (Ephesians 3:16). Thus the triune God supplies comprehensive aid: the Father ordains, the Son mediates, the Spirit indwells. Pastoral and Practical Implications 1. Fearlessness in adversity—Hebrews 13:6 grounds courage not in self-confidence but in God’s character. Historical Echoes in Worship and Theology Early Christian writers loved the title “Helper.” The Didache urges prayer to “God our Helper.” Hymns such as “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” stand in this lineage, echoing Psalm 90:1 and Hebrews 13:6. Creeds that affirm God’s providence implicitly rest on the promise of divine help, and missionaries through the centuries have stepped into the unknown armed with this single word. Related Greek Terms • βοηθέω (Strong’s 997): the verb “to help,” appearing in passages like Mark 9:24. These cognates form a semantic family surrounding βοηθός, expanding the portrait of God’s intervention from noun to action and result. Summary Strong’s Greek 998 distills a sweeping biblical reality: the covenant God does not leave His people to face danger, temptation, or need alone. From the psalmist’s battlefield cry to the epistle writer’s pastoral counsel, βοηθός proclaims that the One who spoke the cosmos into being stoops to bear our burdens. Believers, therefore, live, serve, and suffer with profound assurance, echoing Hebrews 13:6 in every generation: “The Lord is my helper.” Forms and Transliterations βοηθέ βοηθοί βοηθοίς βοηθόν βοηθος βοηθός βοηθού βοηθούς βοηθώ βόθροις βόθρον βόθρος βόθρου boethos boethós boēthos boēthósLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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