"וַיֹּאמֶר יהוה אֱלֹהִים לֹא־טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂהּ־לּוֹ עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ׃
" The LORD God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him.”
(Gen 2:18)
Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg
Dean of the Jewish Studies Faculty at eTeacher"
The majority of English translations describe Adam’s life-partner, Eve, as something akin to a “fitting/suitable helper”. However, the Hebrew phrase עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ (ezer kenegdo), if translated more literally, carries an intriguing and far more powerful meaning. Adam’s wife Eve is actually described in oppositional/challenging terms; that is, as being “a helper who is opposite to him”. Even the word “helper” is a weak translation. The use of עֵזֶר (ezer) in Biblical Hebrew connotes an active intervention on behalf of someone, especially in a military context!
It is no secret that good marriages are those unions in which each spouse complements the other and fulfills that which is lacking on the side of the other. For example, in a good marriage, each spouse stands fully behind the other and does not just go along with everything one puts forth. The husband’s ideas are tested, tried, and at times tempered by the wisdom of this oppositional, but loving interventional agent (helper).
Studying Biblical Hebrew with eTeacher will get you one step closer to understanding the Holy Scriptures. Reading the Bible in its original language is an extraordinary experience. It will be well worth your time and investment. Enroll in to an online course now!
