Why the Biblical Role of Helper Exalts Women

This article was first published in French at TPSG.

What word comes to mind when you think of the word "help"? Do you think of a housekeeper who mops the floors? Or a medical assistant who supports a doctor? Or a secretary who manages a businessman's appointments? Or “mommy’s little helper”? 

The Term “Helper” Then and Now

In the English language, the word "helper" can often convey an idea of subservience. But let's consider its use in Genesis 2 in context. The first chapter provides an overview of God’s work of creation. Human beings, women as well as men, are created in the image of God. The woman as well as the man are given the mandate to be fruitful and to subdue the earth. Together. For the glory of God. The text does not say, "Woman, be fruitful. Man, subdue the earth." God considers her the perfect complement to the man in order for the mandate to be carried out fully.

The First Thing that is Not Good 

Genesis 2 is in some ways a retelling of the creation account, but with a focus on the creation of humanity. In this chapter, we read that everything God creates is good, except for one thing - man's solitude: “The Lord God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a helper like him.” (Genesis 2:18). 

Note that the LORD gives him a help like him. So, while many believe that this passage highlights the differences between the man and the woman, I would argue that what defines the man and the woman is what they share in common: They are both image-bearers, distinct from the animals and the rest of creation. They are both of the same substance, destined to become one flesh. And they are both naked and unashamed. In fact, Genesis 2:23 indicates that Adam seems to find his identity because of the women. She alone can reflect his own humanness back to him and remedy his loneliness, something that none of the animals have been able to. And in tandem with Genesis 1, we see that this first woman for whom the first man breaks out into song is nothing less than God’s gift to him, a co-regent, a co-combatant, a partner like him, for him, and from him: the perfect union of two equals.

Beyond Marriage, Motherhood, and Domesticity

To be clear, I affirm male headship in the Church and home. I would simply like to suggest that elder rule in the Church and male leadership in the home is designed by God to be a partnership in which women's help is essential for the carrying out of God's mission in the world. Yet, sadly, Genesis 2:18 lies at the heart of a great deal of misunderstanding in the Church, where the term “helper” has been reduced to represent a woman exclusively as wife, mother, and homemaker. By this standard, a woman’s ultimate calling is lived out through marriage, motherhood, and domesticity. A recent Barna study on Christian women in North America shows how prevalent this mindset is. When asked what their most important role in life was, 62% of Christian women answered that it was that of mother/parent. Only 13% answered “Follower of Christ.” 

I love being a wife and mother! It’s awesome! I love reading books to my girls – my favourites are missionary biographies. I enjoy crafting, playing board games, cooking, and baking with them as well. I simply love creating new recipes for my family to enjoy - my mopping skills, however, could use some improvement. :) I am thankful that I was able to stay at home when my daughters were little. Those were precious days nurturing my children. But these roles don’t define me as a human being any more than being a husband and father defines my husband. Both of us share this in common: we are first and foremost image bearers, disciples, ambassadors of reconciliation, sinners saved by grace.

Our Eternal Identity: In Union with Christ

Needless to say, my union with Christ is what defines me. That I was chosen in him, have died with him, and have been raised with him determined my destiny before the foundation of the world and will endure for all eternity (Ga 2:20, Ro 6:3-4, Co 3:1, Ep 1:4). Shouldn’t this be the uncontested identifier of every believer, man or woman, and not his/her marital status or status as a parent? After all, I spent over two-thirds of my life as a single woman and three-fourths of my life childless. Was I not fully a woman, living out God’s design for my life then? Plus, these roles, as wonderful as they may be, are temporary, ephemeral. One tragic car accident or terminal cancer diagnosis could take them away from me.

Moreover, this narrow definition of womanhood excludes women who never marry, or the ones who never bear children. Yet these sisters, too, are equally made in God's image. They too are helpers who carry out the mission God entrusted to humanity as they exercise their spiritual gifts for the flourishing of society and the advancement of Christ's kingdom. And, when it comes to personhood, let us remember that our Lord Jesus, who lived out his humanity perfectly, never married nor had physical descendants. Who would argue that he was less of a man due to this? 

Ezer throughout the Old Testament

Going back to Genesis, a closer examination of the term “helper” in the original language paints a different picture than one of subservience and domesticity. For while in English, a person who helps is often subject to the person helped, in Hebrew thought that is far from being the case.

The Hebrew word translated "help" in Genesis is ezer. This word is used in general to designate divine help, especially in the Psalms where it encompasses both material and spiritual assistance. In fact, in the Old Testament, the term ezer in its noun form appears 21 times. Of those, two refer to the woman (Ge 2:18, 20) and three refer to nations which Israel beseeches for military aid (Isa 20:5, Ez 12:14, Da 11:34). 

The other 16 times, it refers to the LORD God himself. A survey of these texts demonstrates that ezer is used in a military context: The LORD is his people’s deliverer, their sword and shield. He is an ever-present help in times of trouble. He is better than chariots and horses. He keeps guard over his people and overthrows their enemies with his strong arm. 

And in its verbal form, ezer occurs 80 times, where it is most common in the Psalms (16×), Isaiah (16×), 2 Chronicles (12×), and 1 Chronicles (10×). And most often, the idea conveyed is of divine military assistance to the nation of Israel. What believer would read these words and dare think of God as man’s servant? And that’s because he is not. The same holds true for women.

Women Honoured as Ezers

The biblical imagery of help, therefore, is far from depicting women in a position of subservience. Genesis 1-2 paints a picture for us of a king whom the Creator blesses with a queen to help him rule over creation. By the use of the term ezer, Scripture therefore honours women. Many of our contemporaries believe that the Bible denigrates women. Certain interpretations and applications of this and other passages lend weight to this argument. But if we return to the Scriptures, and if we interpret them in light of their context, we can be assured that this popular belief is false. Compared to the literature of its time, the Word of God is radical in the way it elevates women. If God is the ezer par excellence of his people, I gladly accept to be an ezer as well.