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In today’s modern culture, even among believers in Yeshua, there is a lot of discussion about the roles of men and women.
With this in mind, I wanted to write a little bit about one of the least discussed and yet possibly the most important role that exists for both men and women.
Let’s begin by looking at Genesis 2:18:
Then ADONAI Elohim said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. Let Me make a well-matched helper for him.” Genesis 2:18 TLV
While this verse is quite familiar to almost all believers, way too many believers base their understanding of this verse upon the story from their children’s bible instead of what the words in the text actually say.
As a result, hasatan (the adversary) has been able to deceive men and women into being at odds with each other instead of being unified as G-D intended for them to be. In verse 18, we find the word “helper,” or something similar in English translations. The word in Hebrew is עזר, or ezer, which can correctly be translated as “helper” in a very superficial or surface way. But, the deeper meaning of the word ezer brings much more clarity and understanding to the intention of the word and, by doing so, it limits the opportunities of misinterpreting its intent.
Misunderstanding the word Ezer
In our modern world, men have misapplied and misused this word ezer (helper) to subjugate women into subordinate roles in ways never intended. The result of this poor interpretation is the mindset of a woman’s place being “barefoot and in the kitchen.” This is totally contrary to G-D’s description of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, which, by the way, would better be translated as “woman of valor,” which adds even more weight to the point I am making in this blog.
The word ezer does imply helping, but it is more specific to what type of help. Let’s look at some other verses in which this word appears. Exodus 18:4:
and the name of the other was Eliezer because he said, “For my father’s God is my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” Exodus 18:4 TLV
Notice Eliezer’s name which comes from the root word ezer, and means “G-D is my help.” Why? Because He delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.
Deuteronomy 33:7:
Now this is for Judah. He said, ‘Hear, ADONAI, the voice of Judah! Bring him to his people. His hands contended for him, so You will be a help against his foes.’ Deuteronomy 33:7 TLV
Here again, we see what type of help ezer demonstrates.
Psalms 33:20:
Our soul waits for ADONAI— He is our help and our shield. Psalms 33:20 TLV
Psalms 70:6:
But I am poor and needy— God, come quickly to me. You are my help and my deliverer— ADONAI, do not delay. Psalms 70:6 TLV
And Hosea 13:9:
It has corrupted you, O Israel, for you are against Me— against your Helper! Hosea 13:9 TLV
There are many other verses using the word ezer in the Bible, but these should be enough for you to see that the meaning of helper is not “a servant,” but someone that aids in the battle. This is made even more clear when we include the Hebrew word נגד, or neged, that is translated as “for him,” or “suitable for him,” which means someone who is opposite you, in sight of, or in front of.
So, we see when we read this verse in its proper context, G-D did not think that it was not good for Adam to be alone because Adam needed a maid, a cook, or a servant of any kind. It was not good for Adam to be alone because he needed a woman of valor to stand opposite of him with him in her sights so that she could be a helper to him by watching his back. •
Introducing The Family Altar Initiative
The Tree of Life Bible Society is building 700 Family Altars in homes across the United States of America by Thanksgiving 2019.
That is 700 families making the decision to love God and love one another.
Since 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first President to declare the week of Thanksgiving as National Bible Week. At the time, the National Bible Association read passages on the air as NBC between radio broadcasts. Since then, every President has declared the week of Thanksgiving National Bible Week.
By joining the Family Altar Initiative, you can be 1 of the 700 families that will be gathered together around God’s Word during their Thanksgiving meals.
Join the Family Altar Initiative!
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