Friday, April 11, 2014

Help Meet Defined

I love history. Learning all the how's and whys and meanings of things is exciting for me!

So, today I will take you on a wild ride into the history of a few words. The reason being, sometimes in translations the real meaning and beauty of what God meant gets lost, veiled or mistaken.

Here they are, the words most women begrudge:

"HELP  MEET" or "HELPER SUITABLE"


I wonder if you cringed at that, like I once did? Maybe just a bit of an irritation deep down in your soul. If so, you've got to stick around! Put on your hip-waders, cuz it's about to get deep in here!





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~

The common way "help meet" or "helper suitable" are understood is that God gave the man a helper who was worthy of him, or appropriate for him. While this is not at all incorrect, there is a much more to be understood about this term. With that let's dive into the original Hebrew.

"help meet" is translated from "ezer kenegdo"

The words "help" or "helper" are translated from the Hebrew words "ezer" or "azar".

  • EZER means "help". It is derived from words meaning "power" and "strength".
  • AZAR means to surround, protect, aid, help, succor, defend

"Ezer" is most commonly used in the Old Testament as God being an "ezer" (help, helper, protector, defender, power, strength) to humans. The Bible consistently explains itself, so grab your Bible and consider these examples:

1 Samuel 7:12 "Samuel named [the rock] Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us". 'Eben' means rock, 'ezer' means help: Rock of Help.

Exodus 18:4 Moses had named his son "Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my helper". Eliezer is defined as "my God is helper".

In the next few verses, God is again defined as our helper:

Deuteronomy 33:29 "He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword."

Psalm 115:11 "trust in the Lord- He is their help and shield."

Psalm  121:1-2 "where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord..."

In each of the above examples the helper, the ezer, has a strength and power the helped does not have and cannot function properly without. 

PLEASE NOTE, I am not suggesting a wife ranks as God to her husband. EVER.

Only that God created her to help her husband in ways he can't help himself. You can see in day to day life, that the one doing the blessing is admired and honored above the one being blessed. Again, not suggesting a wife is above the husband. He is her head, leader in his appointed place by God. (Eph. 5:23)

But, in God's eyes, he needs help. The man's wife is custom made to be his help.

The word "meet" is translated "kenegdo".

  • "KENEGDO" means corresponding to, counterpart to, equal to, matching

God did not create the woman of lesser value, but rather values her equal to the man. He created the woman as a counterpart to the man, not a doormat, slave or possession.

A wife is created special for her husband. A gift unmatchable, yet matching to. A gift of protection and strength (ezer) that he himself does not possess, yet equal to (kenegdo).

Look at your hands. They look the same, yet there are noticeable differences. One hand cannot accomplish much without the other. One hand does not work as efficiently as two. Consider tying your shoe with one hand...opening a letter...changing a diaper...just not happening!

In the same way, a wife is a counterpart to her husband. Similar in appearance, equal in ability, corresponding in tasks.

Let's put these words together using their synonyms and definitions from above.


Did you know, Genesis 2:18 is the only time the word "kenegdo" appears in all scripture? I don't know about you, but that fact thrills me just a bit! God found the woman to be so special, He even described her with a word all her own.

Let me ask you the questions I had to stare directly in the face.

Are you the protective counterpart to your husband? Ok, so maybe not in all the big muscle stuff. But, what about his heart? Proverbs 31:11-12 in KJV, describes a wife as this kind of protector:

"The heart of her husband doth 
safely trust in her...
She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life."

 The heart of your man.....are you protecting it?
>>tweet this<<

Dear friend, I hope you could say YES! I couldn't at one time. I'm still working on it. I'm going to be working on it for the rest of my life. So are you.

I hope this has been as beautiful to you as it was for me. Next time, I hope to touch just a bit on protecting a husbands heart.

I hope you stick around!


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Take a virtual coffee break for your homemaker's heart! Go to top right side bar and join today!





You might also like....
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 1
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 2
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 3
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 4







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41 comments :

  1. This is a good word. I especially love the phrase "protective counterpart."

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  2. Beautiful post! I love history too and I didn't know some of these Hebrew words and their meanings. Makes Scripture come more alive when we study them! Thanks for sharing.

    I'm visiting from the Living in the Word link-up. : )

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    1. Hi, Cathy! So glad you visited! God's book is beautiful, isn't it? :)

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  3. Loved this in-depth look at the layers of meaning behind those words. Words that I've come to know are very beautiful. :-)

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    1. Indeed, they are beautiful! I was amazed when He reveal these meanings to me. He is so good!

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  4. Stopping by from the SITS link up. Love this post!

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  5. Wonderfully written- I like your style *wink* Thanks for linking up at "A Group Look" at Phil. 3:14!

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  6. Thank you for digging deeper and sharing at Words of Life Wednesdays.Thank you for the beautiful challenge.

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    1. Good to "meet" you Rebekah! Blessings to you and yours!

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  7. Fabulous post! I loved this! Tweeted and Pinned! :)

    Thanks for linking up for Marriage Monday!

    blessings,
    Elizabeth

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    1. How sweet of you for sharing! Thank you! Blessings to you & your 10!! Wow! ;)

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  8. Thank you for the encouragement to be what I was created to be for my husband! A work in progress for sure. Stopping by from Thrive at home Thursdays.

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    1. Work in progress, for sure! :) The Lord makes come out of my pen the things I need to work on most. He convicts gently!

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  9. What a good concept to dive into with your words! I'm glad I linked up next to you at Lyli's blog today.

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    1. Thank you Kristin! Enjoyed your post too! Blessings!

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  10. What wonderful wisdom. I just loved how you dived into scripture here. That is something I need to do a better job of doing. So glad you shared with Three Word Wednesday. I'm delighted to have you as a part of our writing family.

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  11. Love how you broke this down, as so many do not understand it. Thank you for sharing with Salt & Light this week!

    Marissa
    http://raysofgraceandjoy.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi, Marissa! Thank you for reading my ramblings again! Joining your blog hop has been great!

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  12. I love your explanation & taking us straight to the Hebrew words w/o making it cumbersome for those of us operating on little brain cells. :) Some things are just over my head, but this was presented simply & understandably. I also appreciate you sharing the importance of women in the lives of their husbands without undermining their important role in scripture. Well done! Linking up behind you from Essential Thing Devotions! Pinning this as well!! :)

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Caroline! I like simple, understandable & straightforward, too :) Its probably not a lack of brain cells as much as it is just not liking all the fluff & foo-foo ;) I to get lost & distracted easily! Glad you were encouraged! Bless you for sharing!

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  13. I absolutely LOVE This post. It is so refreshing to see someone talk about the different roles of husband and wife and do so from a biblical perspective that is true! Thank you for this...your last scripture you quoted...is on my bathroom mirror!

    And congratulations...you have been selected as featured on The Sunday Social!! Thank you so much and don't forget to stop by again this week...we would LOVE to see another post...AND pic up your featured button!
    Kat
    Simply Living Simply

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    1. honored & humbled, Kat! To Him the glory. Thank you for all you do to make your hop possible. Blessings!

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  14. Kaylene, Very encouraging! Happy Easter...<><...Cathy

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    1. Thank you Cathy! Blessings to you & yours this Easter!

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  15. I love that I have a special word!

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    1. Isn't it great!?!!! Thrilled my heart to learn that!

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  16. Eye opening. I don't shy away from the title of Help Meet or the adjective of being submissive, but written out the way you have, I have even more respect for my title. Looking forward to reading the 5 part series!

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    1. Hi Sarah! Thank you for your kind words. To Him the glory!

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  17. My name is Sandra and its meaning is "helper" so I have always been interested in this topic but rarely seen it written about so good for you.

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    1. Hi, Sandra! Thank you for visiting! This is a tough topic to address since most of us shy away from it. I was so enlightened & encouraged when God led to this knowledge, I felt it ahd to be shared!:) Blessings to you & yours!

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  18. Great post Kaylene, I'm a new visitor and I love the way you are encouraging women to love and encourage their husbands. I've talk retreat sessions on the horrible word . . . submission and I share many of the same points. Another thing I love is that Jesus calls the Holy Spirit "the Helper." God has given us a wonderful blessing in being our husband's helper. I'm hoping you'll come over and link your post at CMB.

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    1. Hi, Deb! It's such a blessing to read from like minded wives!:) Blessings!

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  19. I love that you dug into the history of a "help meet". This term is new to me but you explained it all beautifully. I love that women can be the balance to their partners - their husbands Blessed to be visiting from Make a Difference Monday. Mary

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    1. Hi Mary! Thank you for reading! I was greatly enlightened & encouraged upon His leading me to search the meanings. "Help meet" is from the KJV & "helper suitable" from NIV & a few others. I've only heard how women don't like those two, often shying away from them the same as with the word "submission". So now im curious, What translation do you read, that you've never heard the term "help meet"? Blessings!

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  20. This is my first time stopping by your site and I'm so glad I did. I love getting to the "root" of words! Thanks so much for sharing your insight. Blessings to you!

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  21. Thank you for the encouragement.

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  22. Thanks for linking up at the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party.

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