Meaning, commentary and cross references
Genesis 2:18
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
NIV · New International Version
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
WEB · World English Bible
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
What does Genesis 2:18 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Genesis 2:18
And the Lord God said,.... Not at the same time he gave the above direction and instruction to man, how to behave according to his will, but before that, even at the time of the formation of Adam and which he said either to him, or with himself: it was a purpose or determination in his own mind, and may be rendered, as it is by many, he "had said" (b), on the sixth day, on which man was created: it is not good that man should be alone; not pleasant and comfortable to himself, nor agreeable to his nature, being a social creature; nor useful to his species, not being able to propagate it; nor so much for the glory of his Creator: I will made him an help meet for him; one to help him in all…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Genesis 2:18–20
The result of this reasoning concerning him was this kind resolution, I will make a help-meet for him; a help like him (so some read it), one of the same nature and the same rank of beings; a help near him (so others), one to cohabit with him, and to be always at hand; a help before him (so others), one that he should look upon with pleasure and delight. Note hence, (1.) In our best state in this world we have need of one another's help; for we are members one of another, and the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee, Co1 12:21. We must therefore be glad to receive help from others, and give help to others, as there is occasion.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Genesis 2:18
It is not good that the man should be alone [136] Moses now explains the design of God in creating the woman; namely, that there should be human beings on the earth who might cultivate mutual society between themselves. Yet a doubt may arise whether this design ought to be extended to progeny, for the words simply mean that since it was not expedient for man to be alone, a wife must be created, who might be his helper. I, however, take the meaning to be this, that God begins, indeed, at the first step of human society, yet designs to include others, each in its proper place. The commencement, therefore, involves a general principle, that man was formed to be a social animal. [137] Now, the…
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Genesis 2:15–21 (WEB)
15The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. 16The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” 18The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19Out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature became its name. 20The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21The LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. As the man slept, he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
Cross references
- Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
- Proverbs 18:22
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
- 1 Corinthians 11:7–12
For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.
- 1 Peter 3:7
You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
- 1 Timothy 2:11–13
Let a woman learn in quietness with full submission.
- Ruth 3:1
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
- Genesis 1:31
God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
- Genesis 3:12
The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”