help meet

help meet

(ezer kenegdo)

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:18‬

Many of us have read this verse, probably in a different translation. Most translations, other than the King James, use “helper”, instead of “help meet”.  To me, it loses a little in the translation to use something other than “help meet”.  Nevertheless, I’ve discounted this phrase many times as I’ve read over it. 

This phrase stuck out to me after starting over in the Bible, and doing a deeper study book by book and chapter by chapter. 

No matter where I was in the Bible, this phrase, “help meet” stuck out. And now I know why. But before we get to that, let’s look at the phrase a little closer. 

God put my wife in my life because she would play an important part in my relationship with Him. 

It didn’t start out this way at all, far far from it.  We met almost nine years ago and from the beginning she was my friend. We did everything together and most of if at the time was far from honoring God. 

Our lives were turned upside down because of me. I put my wife and my family through some of the worst things imaginable.  And yet, because of God, here we are.  I used to say, “I don’t deserve her”.  I’ve heard people say that she deserves better or that she should have moved on.  Most people would’ve given up, but not my wife. Most of those people don’t know God or what He can do. They truly don’t know Him like we do. And they don’t know the strength He can give you. 

Much has been said about Eve’s intended role with Adam. Many have said she was Adam’s helper, an assistant of sorts.  Many have criticized the translations because it has put Eve in a submissive role. 

This couldn’t be further from the truth. And when I say the truth - I mean the Bible and Gods divine inspiration. 

The original Hebrew was translated as “ezer kenegdo”.  This is a phrase that most Bible translations, translate as “helper”. 

However, if you look at the original usage of this phrase, in Hebrew, and the use in the Old Testament, the meaning is much deeper. 

I encourage, anyone wanting a deeper understanding of what they are reading, to dig deeper into the original words and their context and meaning. 

I won’t bore you with the entire study - so here we go.

Ezer means; a helper, to rescue or save, strong

Kenegdo means; opposite or corresponding to him, complimenting. 

Context is important here. Any word used by itself will have a different meaning. 

Eve was created by God, from Adam in order to be from him as a part of him - for life.  She wasn’t his assistant or submissive. She was his counterpart, his strength in weakness and she complimented him. Of course, she also helped him. She was made because God knew Adam needed someone.  God knew what Adam would need and created Eve. 

God put my wife and I together for a reason and it is our role to honor Him in our marriage. Our marriage didn’t honor God before.  And even though we are still in the middle of something most people would say is horrible - we look to God. 

God gave me my wife - and I truly would not be writing this  without her.  God gave my wife strength in a time when I made her weak.  And she used that strength to make me stronger when I was failing God. 

We are closer to God, as a family and as a husband and wife. God IS the center of our marriage and He is our strength. We compliment each other now more than ever. And no matter what our future has in store for us - we know without a doubt that we will always look to God. 

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:21-24‬

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life. I thank God every day for giving me you. 

I love you Ashley.