“I will make him a suitable helper" (Gen 2:18)
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Abstract
This article examines the expression ‘suitable helper’ (עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ) in Genesis 2:18, which has traditionally been interpreted in marital terms, thereby relegating women to the role of complementing men. The aim is to demonstrate that, in the Bible, the term ʿezer (עֵזֶר) has a broader meaning, linked also to collaboration in work and not solely to the marital relationship. To this end, the study combines a philological and exegetical analysis of the phrase with a narrative examination of the second creation account (Gen 2:4b–25) and its comparison with documentary sources from the Ancient Near East. The scope of the research is limited to reconstructing the original meaning of the expression and its interpretative reception, without addressing the subsequent theological debate in an exhaustive manner. The results show that the creation of the animals, which preceded that of woman, is already presented as a ‘suitable helper’ in the sense of labour, which supports a reading of the passage that is not exclusively marital; furthermore, documentary evidence from the Ancient Near East confirms women’s active participation in work. It is concluded that this interpretation allows us to move beyond the ontological reading that has historically shaped the understanding of women’s role in society and in the Church, and paves the way for an anthropology more faithful to the relational and collaborative dynamics present in the creation narratives.
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