The term "suitable" in the context of the Bible often refers to that which is appropriate, fitting, or proper according to God's design and purpose. It is a concept that underscores the importance of alignment with divine order and intention, particularly in relationships, roles, and actions.

Creation and Relationships

The concept of suitability is first introduced in the creation narrative. In Genesis 2:18, God observes, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper." . Here, the term "suitable" (often translated as "fit" or "comparable") emphasizes the complementary nature of the relationship between man and woman. Eve is created as a partner who corresponds to Adam, highlighting the divine intention for companionship and mutual support in human relationships.

Roles and Responsibilities

Suitability also extends to the roles and responsibilities assigned by God. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses the suitability of certain behaviors and roles within the church and family. For instance, in 1 Timothy 3:2, Paul writes, "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach." . The qualifications listed are suitable for someone in a position of spiritual leadership, reflecting the need for integrity and moral character.

Moral and Ethical Conduct

The Bible frequently addresses the suitability of moral and ethical conduct. In Ephesians 5:3-4, Paul exhorts believers, "But among you, as is proper for saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving." . Here, the term "proper" is synonymous with suitability, indicating behaviors that align with the identity and calling of believers as holy people.

Worship and Offerings

Suitability is also a theme in the context of worship and offerings. In the Old Testament, God provided specific instructions for sacrifices and offerings, emphasizing that only what was suitable and without blemish was acceptable. Leviticus 22:21 states, "When anyone presents a fellowship offering to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it must be without blemish to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it." . This requirement underscores the importance of offering God what is fitting and worthy of His holiness.

Wisdom and Discernment

The pursuit of wisdom and discernment is another area where suitability is significant. Proverbs 25:11 illustrates this with the metaphor, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." . The imagery conveys the beauty and value of words that are suitable and timely, reflecting the importance of discernment in communication.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of suitability encompasses a wide range of applications, from relationships and roles to moral conduct and worship. It calls for alignment with God's design and purpose, ensuring that actions, words, and relationships are fitting and appropriate in the sight of the Lord.(a.) Capable of suiting; fitting; accordant; proper; becoming; agreeable; adapted; as, ornaments suitable to one's station; language suitable for the subject.4241. prepo -- to be fitting, proper, suitable
... to be fitting, proper, suitable. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prepo Phonetic
Spelling: (prep'-o) Short Definition: it becomes, is fitting to Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4241.htm - 7k

2111. euthetos -- well-placed, ie ready for use
... well-placed, ie ready for use. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: euthetos
Phonetic Spelling: (yoo'-thet-os) Short Definition: suitable, fit, useful ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2111.htm - 7k

433. aneko -- to be fit, be proper
... to be fit, be proper. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aneko Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ay'-ko) Short Definition: is due, becoming, suitable, proper Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/433.htm - 7k

5543. chrestos -- serviceable, good
... Cognate: 5543 (an adjective, derived from 5530 , "to furnish what is suitable, useful")
-- properly, (serviceable, productive); (); beneficial, benevolent). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5543.htm - 7k

170. akaireomai -- to have no opportunity
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: akaireomai Phonetic Spelling: (ak-ahee-reh'-
om-ahee) Short Definition: I am without a suitable opportunity Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/170.htm - 6k

1034. brosimos -- edible
... edible. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: brosimos Phonetic Spelling:
(bro'-sim-os) Short Definition: eatable, suitable for food Definition: eatable ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1034.htm - 6k

514. axios -- of weight, of worth, worthy
... axios Phonetic Spelling: (ax'-ee-os) Short Definition: worthy, worthy of, deserving
Definition: worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/514.htm - 7k

1822. exartizo -- to complete, to equip fully
... 1822 (from 1537 , "completely out from" intensifying , "make suitable") --
properly, (because fully suitable) because all the work . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1822.htm - 7k

2121. eukairos -- timely
... timely. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eukairos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo'-kahee-ros) Short Definition: timely, suitable Definition: opportune, timely ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2121.htm - 6k

2412. hieroprepes -- reverent
... reverent. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hieroprepes Phonetic Spelling:
(hee-er-op-rep-ace') Short Definition: suitable to a sacred character ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2412.htm - 7k

1903. hagin -- perhaps appropriate, suitable.
... 1902, 1903. hagin. 1904 . perhaps appropriate, suitable. ... Word Origin from an
unused word Definition perhaps appropriate, suitable. directly ...
/hebrew/1903.htm - 5k

3787. kasher -- to be advantageous, proper, or suitable, to ...
... kasher. 3788 . to be advantageous, proper, or suitable, to succeed. Transliteration:
kasher Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-share') Short Definition: success. ...
/hebrew/3787.htm - 6k

5000. naveh -- comely, seemly
... becometh, comely, seemly. From na'ah or naveh; suitable, or beautiful -- becometh,
comely, seemly. see HEBREW na'ah. see HEBREW naveh. 4999, 5000. naveh. 5001 ...
/hebrew/5000.htm - 6k

7737. shavah -- to agree with, be like, resemble
... A primitive root; properly, to level, ie Equalize; figuratively, to resemble; by
implication, to adjust (ie Counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield ...
/hebrew/7737.htm - 5k

4998. naah -- to be comely or befitting
... A primitive root; properly, to be at home, ie (by implication) to be pleasant (or
suitable), ie Beautiful -- be beautiful, become, be comely. 4997, 4998. ...
/hebrew/4998.htm - 6k

4725. maqom -- a standing place, place
... 1), area (1), country (1), direction (1), everywhere* (1), ground (2), home (7),
hometown (1), localities (1), place (348), place suitable (1), places (16 ...
/hebrew/4725.htm - 6k

5048. neged -- in front of, in sight of, opposite to
... opposite* (5), other side (1), presence (13), resist* (1), risked* (1), sight (2),
sight* (2), straight ahead (3), straight before (1), suitable (2), under (1 ...
/hebrew/5048.htm - 6k

2969. yaah -- to befit, be befitting
... root Definition to befit, be befitting NASB Word Usage due (1). appertain. A primitive
root; to be suitable -- appertain. 2968, 2969. yaah. 2970 . ...
/hebrew/2969.htm - 5k

Whether it is Suitable for the Articles of Faith to be Embodied in ...
... TREATISE ON THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES (QQ -46)OF FAITH (TEN ARTICLES) Whether it is
suitable for the articles of faith to be embodied in a symbol? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is suitable for.htm

Whether this be a Suitable Form of Baptism: "I Baptize Thee in the ...
... OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether this be a suitable form of
Baptism: "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether this be a suitable.htm

Whether Olive Oil is a Suitable Matter for this Sacrament?
... EXTREME UNCTION (QQ -33) Whether olive oil is a suitable matter for this sacrament? ...
Therefore chrism would be a more suitable matter for this sacrament. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether olive oil is a.htm

Whether Christ Suffered in a Suitable Place?
... THE PASSION OF CHRIST (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether Christ suffered in a suitable place?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ did not suffer in a suitable place. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ suffered in a.htm

Whether the Foregoing Prayer is a Suitable Form for this Sacrament ...
... EXTREME UNCTION (QQ -33) Whether the foregoing prayer is a suitable form
for this sacrament? ... Therefore it is not a suitable form. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the foregoing prayer is.htm

Of the Times Most Suitable for Baptism.
... Chapter XIX."Of the Times Most Suitable for Baptism. The Passover affords
a more than usually solemn day for baptism; when, withal ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on baptism/chapter xix of the times most.htm

The Title Christ Suitable as a Name of the Creator's Son, but ...
... Wherein Christ is shown to be the Son of God, Who created the world Chapter
XV."The Title Christ Suitable as a Name of the Creator's Son, But Unsuited to ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xv the title christ suitable.htm

Whether a Suitable Cause Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies which ...
... OF THE CAUSES OF THE CEREMONIAL PRECEPTS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether a suitable cause
can be assigned for the ceremonies which pertained to sacrifices? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a suitable cause can.htm

Whether Christ Suffered at a Suitable Time?
... THE PASSION OF CHRIST (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether Christ suffered at a suitable time?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ did not suffer at a suitable time. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ suffered at a.htm

Whether There was any More Suitable Way of Delivering the Human ...
... THE PASSION OF CHRIST (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether there was any more suitable
way of delivering the human race than by Christ's Passion? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was any more.htm

Suitable (13 Occurrences)
... (a.) Capable of suiting; fitting; accordant; proper; becoming; agreeable; adapted;
as, ornaments suitable to one's station; language suitable for the subject. ...
/s/suitable.htm - 10k

Fit (47 Occurrences)
... 3. (superl.) Adapted to an end, object, or design; suitable by nature or by art;
suited by character, qualities, circumstances, education, etc.; qualified ...
/f/fit.htm - 23k

Match (4 Occurrences)
... 9. (v.) Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes
with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match. 10. ...
/m/match.htm - 9k

Comely (32 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Suitable or becoming; proper; agreeable. ... kum'-li-nes, kum'-li: Cognate
with "becoming," namely, what is suitable, graceful, handsome. ...
/c/comely.htm - 16k

Appropriate (19 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Suitable for a particular use; fit; proper; as, appropriate language
or attire. Hence: Belonging peculiarly; peculiar; suitable; ...
/a/appropriate.htm - 12k

Suit (15 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) Regular order; succession. 10. (vt) To fit; to adapt; to make proper
or suitable; as, to suit the action to the word. 11. ...
/s/suit.htm - 12k

Opportunity (35 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A time or place favorable for executing a purpose;
a suitable combination of conditions; suitable occasion; chance. ...
/o/opportunity.htm - 17k

Wrong (391 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Not according to the laws of good morals, whether divine or human; not suitable
to the highest and best end; not morally right; deviating from ...
/w/wrong.htm - 36k

Infernal (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Pertaining to hell; diabolical; as, infernal spirits, or conduct; suitable
for hell, or to the character of the inhabitants of hell; hellish. ...
/i/infernal.htm - 7k

Expedient (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Advantageous; suitable to a purpose, especially to one's own benefit; hastening
or forward; hence, tending to further or promote a proposed object; fit ...
/e/expedient.htm - 10k

How was the woman a helper suitable for the man (Genesis 2:18)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that a wife is supposed to be a helpmeet / help meet? | GotQuestions.org

Are men and women equal in God's eyes? | GotQuestions.org

Suitable: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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