Genesis 2:18

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

And the LORD {H3068} God {H430} said {H559}, It is not good {H2896} that the man {H120} should be {H1961} alone; I will make {H6213} him an help meet {H5828} for him.

Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.”

The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”

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

Commentary

Genesis 2:18 marks a pivotal moment in the creation narrative, revealing God's assessment that something was "not good" in His otherwise perfect creation: the man's solitude. This verse immediately precedes the creation of Eve, emphasizing the foundational importance of companionship and relationship in human existence.

Context

Following the detailed account of the creation of man (Adam) from the dust of the ground and the establishment of the Garden of Eden as his dwelling, the LORD God surveyed His work. While the preceding creation in Genesis chapter 1 was repeatedly declared "good" or "very good", the state of man being alone was identified as an exception. This divine declaration sets the stage for the creation of woman, not as an afterthought, but as a necessary and intentional act to complete God's design for humanity.

Key Themes

  • The Need for Companionship: The declaration "It is not good that the man should be alone" highlights the inherent human need for relationship and community. God, who exists in perfect Trinitarian fellowship, designed humanity for connection, making isolation an unnatural state. This foundational truth underscores the value of human relationships, friendship, and the institution of marriage.
  • Divine Provision and Purpose: God's active statement, "I will make him an help meet for him," demonstrates His loving intention to provide for every human need. The creation of woman was not accidental but a deliberate act of divine providence to fulfill man's relational void and to establish a complementary partnership.
  • Complementarity and Partnership: The phrase "help meet for him" is crucial. It speaks to a partner who is both a helper and a suitable counterpart. This concept lays the groundwork for understanding marriage as a union of two individuals who complement each other, working together in shared purpose.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "help meet for him" translates the Hebrew ‘ezer kenegdo.

  • ‘Ezer (help/helper): This word, often translated "help," does not imply inferiority. In fact, it is frequently used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe God Himself as Israel's helper (e.g., Psalm 33:20, Psalm 121:2). It denotes strength, assistance, and vital support.
  • Kenegdo (meet for him/corresponding to him/suitable for him): This part signifies suitability, correspondence, and being "opposite to him" or "matching him." It suggests someone who is a fitting counterpart, an equal in essence, designed to stand alongside and complete. Together, ‘ezer kenegdo describes a powerful, essential helper who is perfectly suited to the man, reflecting a relationship of mutual strength and partnership rather than subordination.

Practical Application

Genesis 2:18 offers profound insights for contemporary life:

  • It affirms the inherent value and necessity of human relationships. We are created for connection, whether in marriage, family, or community (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
  • It highlights God's perfect design for marriage as a complementary partnership, where husband and wife are to be a "help meet" to each other, offering mutual support, strength, and companionship.
  • It reminds us that God is actively involved in meeting our deepest needs, including our need for connection and belonging.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ecclesiastes 4:9

    Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:12

    And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:7

    For a man indeed ought not to cover [his] head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:12

    For as the woman [is] of the man, even so [is] the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

  • 1 Peter 3:7

    Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

  • Proverbs 18:22

    ¶ [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

  • Genesis 3:12

    And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
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