Restoration of the Divine Helper

Excerpt from Chapter One

What is Headship?

In 1 Corinthians 11:3, we read that God is the Head of Christ; Christ is the Head of the Church; the man is the Head of the woman. The Head is a decision maker but also the source of life including the kind of life that is inherited. Adam’s moral choice determined the moral life of Eve, the moral life of those that Eve would bear, and the moral life of every human being born on this planet. Only one exception exists and that is Christ, born of the Virgin Mary. Adam had a unique role to play, and Eve had a unique role to play. Let us now examine hers.

Two juxtaposed realities need to be clearly noticed. One is the seriousness of the death threat, and the other is the immediate comment that Adam needs help. The most obvious place he needs help is to be kept from getting executed by God!

Again, the word for helper is a wonderful Hebrew word, azer. This word azer appears over 20 times in the Old Testament and 16 times it is used of God. The related verb, noun, and adjective derived forms of azer are used with reference to God 60 times in the Old Testament! Azer always refers to a significant helper like God: a king, a prince, or a great warrior. In a number of contexts, it carries with it the idea of protection. In Psalms it is used of God as a helper who protects.

Another way of speaking of Eve is to say, “. . . I will make him a helper and a shield suitable for him.” Who and what does Adam need protection from? God knew a tempter would enter the garden, and Adam would need to be protected from the tempter. We might add as we consider the story of the temptation carefully that Adam may have needed protection from himself.

The word Azer underscores how critical the helper is. It is someone who is crucially important, who will deliver another from a grave problem, and is a loyal companion.

Azer is a magnificent term. It is not the Hebrew word for a slave, or a hireling, or an assistant, or a vice-president. We would not say to God, “God, you are my assistant.” But instead, God is our azer, our helper. God said, “I will make him a helper azer suitable for him (or who is his complement).” Because the helper was able to harmoniously match him, it meant she was a magnificent helper who was his equal. Aramaic is a sister language to Hebrew and in one of its great dictionaries the verbal form of azer is defined as helper, protector. This insight is powerful because it underscores the role of Eve as a helper like God and a protector like God.

© 2026 Dr. David Eckman. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited.