The Meaning of Help Meet in Genesis 2

Genesis 2

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became into four heads.

11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasses the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasses the whole land of Ethiopia.

14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goes toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.

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

19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her to the man.

23 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.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall join to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

A "help meet" is a companion created by God to be a man’s equal, a helper who corresponds to him and acts as his spiritual and emotional counterpart Genesis 2:18DG 22.3+1.

The Divine Design of Companionship

When God observed that it was not good for man to be alone, He did not merely create a servant, but a "help meet"—a term signifying a helper suitable for him or one who stands in his presence as an equal Genesis 2:181MCP 159.2+1. This companion was fitted to be one with him in love, sympathy, and spirit1MCP 159.2+1. While Adam was superior to the animal kingdom, he lacked a social equal until God provided a second self to prevent him from dwelling in solitude1MCP 161.2+2.

Equality and Union

The specific manner of Eve's creation carries deep symbolic meaning for the marriage relation:

• Created from a Rib: Eve was not taken from Adam's head to rule over him, nor from his feet to be trampled as an inferiorDG 22.3+1.

• Standing Side by Side: She was created from his side to stand as an equal, to be loved, protected, and cherished as part of his own body Ephesians 5:291MCP 159.2+1.

• Bone and Flesh: Adam recognized this close union, declaring her "bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh," which established the law that a man should cleave unto his wife as one flesh Genesis 2:23-24BEcho August 28, 1899, par. 2.

The Marriage Institution

Marriage was established in Eden as one of God’s two great gifts to humanity, the other being the SabbathBEcho August 28, 1899, par. 2+2. True marriage is not a lottery but a divine institution where two people blend their lives through heart affection and mutual supportPaM 201.1+2. The wife is intended to be a "strong helper" who cheers and encourages her husband, while he, in turn, acts as her protector Colossians 3:1814LtMs, Ms 16, 1899, par. 32+1.

A Counterpart for Character

The Hebrew meaning of help meet (ezer ke-negdo) refers to a "help as his counterpart" or things corresponding to each otherETI Help-meet.2+1. This relationship was designed to help both parties fulfill God's purpose, as the wife softens and improves the husband's character while they work unitedly to save souls and reflect the divine nature1T 452.2+2. This holy companionship in the home is a preparation for the society of pure angels in gloryPC 205.4+2.