exegetical · Gen 2:18–25 · ✓ Approved

The helper, the woman, and one flesh (Genesis 2:18–25)

Says God says it is not good for the man to be alone and will make “a suitable helper.” The printed wording is the MT אֶעֱשֶׂהּ, I will make; the Greek has ποιήσωμεν, let us make. See the variant note. עֵזֶר is most often used of God as help and does not by itself mark a subordinate; כְּנֶגְדּוֹ occurs only here and in 2:20. God casts a deep sleep, takes אַחַת מִצַּלְעֹתָיו (BSB “one of the man’s ribs”), and builds a woman. The man says “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” In 2:24 a man leaves, clings (BSB “be united to”), and “they will become one flesh.” The MT has no the two; see the variant note.

Uncertain What עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ stresses: correspondence and equality, or a distinct helping role within that likeness. Whether Genesis 2 itself sets an order of roles, or a partnership whose ordered roles appear at 3:16, is open. Each view’s grounds are the main objection to the other. No lean is taken, and no application is made.

Uncertain Who speaks 2:24: the narrator, or the man continuing. No lean is taken.

Says In Matthew 19:4–5 Jesus says that the Creator said these words, joining Genesis 1:27 and 2:24. Matthew presents 2:24 as God’s word whichever human voice speaks in Genesis 2. How far 2:24 governs later questions is not settled here; the divorce question in Matthew 19 is out of scope. Genesis 2:25 points on to Genesis 3.

Claims

SaysGod says it is not good for the man to be alone and will make a suitable helper. The printed wording is the MT אֶעֱשֶׂהּ, “I will make”; the Greek has ποιήσωμεν, “let us make.” עֵזֶר is most often used of God as help and does not by itself mark a subordinate. God builds a woman from אַחַת מִצַּלְעֹתָיו (BSB “one of the man’s ribs”). In 2:24 a man leaves, clings, and “they will become one flesh.” The MT has no “the two.” The two are naked and not ashamed.
UncertainWhat עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ stresses — correspondence and equality, or a distinct helping role within that likeness — and whether Genesis 2 itself sets an order of roles, or a partnership whose ordered roles appear at 3:16, are open. Each view’s grounds are the main objection to the other. No lean is taken, and no application is made.
UncertainWho speaks 2:24, the narrator or the man continuing, is open. No lean is taken here.
SaysIn Matthew 19:4–5 Jesus says that the Creator said these words, joining Genesis 1:27 and 2:24. Matthew presents 2:24 as God’s word whichever human voice speaks in Genesis 2. How far 2:24 governs later questions is not settled here; the divorce question in Matthew 19 is out of scope. Genesis 2:25 points on to Genesis 3.

Citations

BSB public domain Gen 2:1–25
OSHB CC BY 4.0 Gen 2:1–25 (WLC/OSHB), cantillation removed
LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Gen 2:1–24 and Swete 3:1 (ENG 2:25), vol. 1, pp. 3–4 (oldtestamentingr01swetuoft, viewer leaves n34–n35); read on the page images
SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Heb 4:4; 1 Cor 15:45; Matt 19:4–6; Mark 10:6–9; Eph 5:31; 1 Cor 11:8–9; 1 Tim 2:13; SBLGNT apparatus at Matt 19:4–5, Mark 10:6–7, and Eph 5:31

Sources Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain OSHB CC BY 4.0 LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 RP2018 Unlicense

Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

2026-11-10

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