Helpmate

Ladies:

As a student of God's Word and a desire to grow into the woman He created me to be, I thought it would be helpful to share a little insight into a common verse heard by wives around the globe. The text notes and translation that follow are from the Net Bible.

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. 55 I will make a companion 56 for him who corresponds to him.”

56 tn Traditionally “helper.” The English word “helper,” because it can connote so many different ideas, does not accurately convey the connotation of the Hebrew word עֵזֶר (’ezer). Usage of the Hebrew term does not suggest a subordinate role, a connotation which English “helper” can have. In the Bible God is frequently described as the “helper,” the one who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, the one who meets our needs. In this context the word seems to express the idea of an “indispensable companion.” The woman would supply what the man was lacking in the design of creation and logically it would follow that the man would supply what she was lacking, although that is not stated here. See further M. L. Rosenzweig, “A Helper Equal to Him,” Jud 139 (1986): 277-80.

57 tn The Hebrew expression כְּנֶגְדּוֹ (kÿnegdo) literally means “according to the opposite of him.” Translations such as “suitable [for]” (NASB, NIV), “matching,” “corresponding to” all capture the idea. (Translations that render the phrase simply “partner” [cf. NEB, NRSV], while not totally inaccurate, do not reflect the nuance of correspondence and/or suitability.) The man’s form and nature are matched by the woman’s as she reflects him and complements him. Together they correspond. In short, this prepositional phrase indicates that she has everything that God had invested in him.

You are your husbands indispensable companion. You are a match and a complement to him. It truly is a partnership that requires both of you to participate and without each other your marriage is lacking. While you cannot control your husbands role you can chose to be available to your mate by being his companion and supporting him where you see God has designed you to fit. If you are having trouble seeing where you fit in the marriage ask God to reveal it to you! Seek and find, knock and the door will be opened.

Happy Sunday!
Annie