The term "help-meet" originates from the King James Version of the Bible, specifically in the book of Genesis, where it describes the creation of Eve as a companion for Adam. The phrase is derived from Genesis 2:18, which in the Berean Standard Bible reads: "The LORD God also said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.'" The term "help-meet" has historically been understood to mean a suitable or fitting helper, emphasizing the complementary role of Eve to Adam.

Biblical Context

In Genesis 2:18-24, the narrative details God's creation of Eve from Adam's rib, underscoring the intimate and purposeful design of the first woman as a partner for the first man. The BSB states in Genesis 2:21-22: "So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh. And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him." This passage highlights the divine intention behind the creation of woman as a "helper" who corresponds to man, both in nature and purpose.

Theological Significance

The concept of "help-meet" is foundational in understanding the biblical view of marriage and gender roles. The term "helper" (Hebrew: עֵזֶר, ezer) does not imply inferiority or subordination but rather denotes a role of support and partnership. In fact, the same Hebrew word is used in other parts of the Old Testament to describe God as a helper to humanity (e.g., Psalm 33:20, "Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield").

From a theological perspective, the creation of Eve as a "help-meet" reflects the complementary nature of men and women, designed to work together in fulfilling God's mandate for humanity. This partnership is further emphasized in Genesis 1:27-28 : "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.'"

Cultural and Historical Interpretations

Throughout history, the interpretation of "help-meet" has influenced Christian thought on marriage and gender roles. In traditional Christian teachings, the role of the wife as a "help-meet" is often seen as one of support and partnership, working alongside her husband in the stewardship of family and home. This view upholds the idea of mutual respect and love, as further elaborated in the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:22-33 about the relationship between husbands and wives, emphasizing love, respect, and mutual submission.

Contemporary Relevance

In contemporary discussions, the term "help-meet" continues to be a point of reflection and debate within Christian communities. While some advocate for a more egalitarian approach to gender roles, others maintain the traditional view of distinct but complementary roles for men and women. Regardless of differing interpretations, the biblical concept of "help-meet" remains a significant element in understanding the divine design for human relationships, particularly within the context of marriage.(Hebrews `ezer ke-negdo; i.e., "a help as his counterpart" = a help suitable to him), a wife (Genesis 2:18-20). 7125. qirah -- against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way
... 7124, 7125. qirah. 7126 . against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way.
Transliteration: qirah Phonetic Spelling: (keer-aw') Short Definition: seek. ...
/hebrew/7125.htm - 6k

The Bones and Flesh of Wisdom; the Side Out of which the Spiritual ...
... Chapter VIII."The Bones and Flesh of Wisdom; The Side Out of Which the Spiritual
Eve is Formed, the Holy Spirit; The Woman the Help-Meet of Adam; Virgins ...
/.../chapter viii the bones and flesh.htm

The Necessity and Benefits of Religious Society
... But God, whose thoughts are not as our thoughts, saw something still wanting to
make Adam happy. And what was that? Why, and help meet for him. ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the necessity and benefits of.htm

The Scriptural Account of Paradise.
... And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; let Us make
him an helpmeet for him. ... But for Adam there was not found an helpmeet for him. ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xx the scriptural account of.htm

A Community Rests Upon Justice and Good-Will. ...
... It is not good that man should be alone, let us make him an helpmeet for him ... the
woman was formed, it was said of Adam: "There was not found an help-meet for him ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxviii a community rests.htm

How He Fled to a Monastery when his Wife Would not Consent.
... For I acknowledge and honour my helpmeet assigned to me by the word of the Lord,
and I do not refuse to be joined to her in an unbroken tie of love in Christ ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter ix how he fled.htm

The Banquet of the Ten Virgins, or Concerning Chastity
... Chapter VIII.--The Bones and Flesh of Wisdom; The Side Out of Which the Spiritual
Eve is Formed, the Holy Spirit; The Woman the Help-Meet of Adam; Virgins ...
/.../methodius/the banquet of the ten virgins or concerning chastity/

For Eight Years Gregory Has Given up the Practice Of
... truth, most contrary to each other. For silence is indeed the friend and helpmeet
of thought and invention. But if one aims at readiness ...
/.../argument i for eight years gregory.htm

Waiving Allusion to the Paraclete, Tertullian Comes to the ...
... moreover, in the introductory speech which preceded the work itself, He said, "It
is not good for the man that he be alone; let us make an help-meet for him ...
/.../tertullian/on monogamy/chapter iv waiving allusion to the.htm

Of what is to be Believed on the Subject of the Creation of Man ...
... comes to know even his Creator and worships Him, might preside over all the living
creatures of earth: Whereas, too, he made the woman to be an helpmeet for him ...
/.../augustine/on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 18 of what is to.htm

The Domestic Relation.
... God saw after he had created man that it was not good for him to be alone.
Such was his constitution. So he made a helpmeet for him. ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xiii the domestic relation.htm

Helpmeet
... Genesis 2:18-20). Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A wife; a helpmate. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HELPMEET. help'-met. See HELP. ...
/h/helpmeet.htm - 6k

Help-meet
Help-meet. Helpmeet, Help-meet. Helps . Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews ...
20). Helpmeet, Help-meet. Helps . Reference Bible.
/h/help-meet.htm - 6k

Eve (5 Occurrences)
... The first created woman; created secondarily from Adam (or man) as a "helpmeet
for him ... She is the helpmeet for him (ezer keneghdo, "a help answering to him"). ...
/e/eve.htm - 16k

Polygamy
... We have now no longer the "helpmeet" originally destined for man-"bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh"-for whom he would "leave his father and his mother ...
/p/polygamy.htm - 19k

Helps (16 Occurrences)

/h/helps.htm - 12k

Meet (281 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be
alone; I will make him an helpmeet for him. (KJV JPS ASV WBS). ...
/m/meet.htm - 41k

Fowls (61 Occurrences)
... 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowls of the air, and to every
beast of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helpmeet for him. ...
/f/fowls.htm - 25k

Help (1694 Occurrences)
... verb here (sunantilambanetai) having the striking meaning of to "take hold along
with one." In the story of Eden, Eve is spoken of as "a helpmeet" for Adam ...
/h/help.htm - 9k

Helpmate (2 Occurrences)

/h/helpmate.htm - 7k

Fowl (73 Occurrences)
... 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every
beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an helpmeet for him. ...
/f/fowl.htm - 36k

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