ʿēzer kənegdô

Semantic range

1. 1ʿēzer: help, aid, rescue — most often used of God Himself
2. 2kənegdô: corresponding to, opposite, matching, in front of

The KJV's "an help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18) has been read in English as though it meant an assistant, and the compressed modern noun "helpmeet" cemented the misreading. The Hebrew says something else. Of the roughly twenty-one occurrences of ʿēzer in the Hebrew Bible, the large majority describe God as the help of Israel — "our help is in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 124:8). It is a word for a rescuer who supplies what is lacking, and it carries no hint of subordination.

Kənegdô is the more unusual half: neged means in front of, opposite, face to face. The compound describes a counterpart standing over against him — matching, corresponding, equal and distinct.

President Russell M. Nelson and other Church leaders have taught the equal-partnership reading directly, and the Family Proclamation states it as doctrine: fathers and mothers "are obligated to help one another as equal partners."

Where it appears

• Genesis 2:18The phrase itself.
• Psalm 121:1–2"My help cometh from the Lord" — the same noun, of God.

See also

• אָדָםʾādām
• בְּרִיתbərît