After creating the world and Adam to preside over it, God proclaimed that it was not good for man to be by himself (Genesis 2:18). Rashi explains that this statement reflected God’s concern that the earthly creatures not deify Adam. Seeing that God was alone in the heavens, they might erroneously think that since man was alone on earth, he too was a deity of sorts. To preclude this problem from happening, God decided to create a woman for Adam to serve as his partner.
The Torah describes this person as being an ezer kenegdo—an “opposing helper.” Rashi explains this odd phrase as meaning that the role of a spouse is indeterminate. If a man is fortunate, then he will be blessed with a wife who is his helper. If he is unfortunate, then his wife will constantly oppose him.
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Author: David Hertzberg
Keywords: Women superior to men, Women men, Women vs men, Women versus men, Women are closer to God, Women are closer to God than men, Oppression of women, Women, Feminism, Anti feminism, misogynist, misogyny, Women to be in subjection, Sexist, Women of prominence, Chauvinism, Male chauvinism, Chauvinist, Male chauvinist, Helpmeet, Help meet, Helper, Woman helper, Helper against, Helper opposite, Helpmate, Help mate, Woman help mate, Woman helpmeet, Equality of women, Gender equality, Equality of the sexes, Men superior to women, Opposing helper, Woman opposing helper
Bible reference(s): Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:20, Genesis 3:16, Proverbs 18:22, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Timothy 2:13-14, 1 Peter 3:1-6
Source: The Jewish Press, Oct 2, 2007.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.