What is Marriage?
- agapemarriageandfa
- Feb 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 1
Genesis 2:18 states, "Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him" (NASB 1995). We then see the account of how God fashioned woman from the rib of the first man. From the Hebrew text, the word translated in our English "helper," or "help mate," comes from the Hebrew word עֵזֶר ezer and occurs many times in the Old Testament. A great example of the usage of this word is in Psalm 121:1-2, "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth" (NASB 1995). The Psalmist recognizes that the LORD God is the source of good in his life. He understands that when he is in need, he can turn to the LORD God for help.
When God created woman to be a helper for man it was no small thing. She was created to be of great help for him. She was not only created to be a helping hand, she was created to be a help in time of need. She was created to come to his side when he is crying out for help. She is a supporter, comforter, and a complementor. She becomes his complementor when she joins him in the covenant of marriage.
The formation of woman from man can be seen in Genesis 2:21-24. The LORD God puts Adam in a deep state of sleep and removes a rib from him, and uses that rib to fashion woman. Adam awakes from his deep sleep to discover this newly created human and he responds, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man" (NASB 1995). If you quickly brush over this text you will miss what is there. Take time to re-read this text and listen to what Adam is saying here. There is amazement. There is excitement. Adam is overjoyed with this new creation and he understands the importance of this woman the LORD God gave to him. Adam knows that this is the helper he has longed for. Adam knows this is indeed the greatest gift the LORD God could have ever gave him. Adam knows that he has been given this woman to be his lifelong companion.
We then see, in verse 24, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife" (NASB 1995). Here, the writer of this passage, Moses, describes this moment, when Adam received his helper, the first woman, as the model for marraige. Moses is basically stating that a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, just as the LORD God demonstrated by joining the woman he created to Adam, the first man which the LORD God created. This marriage is meant to be a covenant between the man, the woman, and the LORD God. Marriage is a creation solely of the LORD God. It is not a human creation. Marriage is not a civil union. Marriage is an unbreakable covenantial bond between a man and a woman sealed and approved of by the LORD God.
Finally, I want to end with insight from the Family LIfe Marriage Bible. "The Bible makes it clear that marriage is a legally binding public declaration of commitment and a private consummation between one man and one woman...Therefore, we believe God gives a wife to a husband and a husband to a wife, and they are to receive one another as God's unique and personal provision to help meet their mutual needs" - (page 13, Family Life Marriage Bible, Dennis & Barbara Rainey). Marriage is a wonderful gift from the LORD God.
Check out our latest YouTube video on What is Marraige
Grace be to you in the Lord Jesus Chrsit
Joey
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