What Does God's Original Design For Woman As Ezer Mean For Us Now?

Lisa Wilson
Dec 13, 2023
6 min read

woman sitting with Bible in her lap with words A Word Study: Ezer K'negdo — OriginalPhoto by Ben White on Unsplash

This is the third and final post in this word study series on Ezer K'negdo as found in Genesis 2. You can find the first post in this series here (this goes over some important context). You can find post 2 here that explores the role of translation and translators. In this post, we look at what it means to us today? How does God's original design for woman matter, and what does it mean in our day-to-day lives here and now?

What Is The Role Of Ezer K’negdo?

Woman is the companion, ally, encourager, challenger, champion, comforter, & exhorter Man needs, and together they are the full image of God.

Woman was not created to be the silent partner, the helper (as in the magician’s assistant or the personal secretary) with no autonomy -- the sperm receptacle. Nor was she created only for the edification of her family.

The Great Debate

It’s true that the one who names, generally speaking, has authority over the thing being named. We name our children, our streets, our pets. God gives us his names, we don’t have names FOR him. Some scholars point out that the man names the new creation woman and that this necessarily implies a hierarchy of authority.

Others, such as Glenn Kreider, PhD in a collection of essays in Vindicating The Vixens argues against that. “This is unlikely for several reasons. First, such an interpretation is not consistent with the narrative in the first chapter, in which both male and female are named “Adam.” Further, in Genesis 5 the narrator reiterates this point; ‘When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man [Adam] when they were created” (Gen. 5:1-2). Second, the man does not name the woman in Genesis 2; he calls her what she is. The passive construction, ‘she shall be called Woman,’ does not indicate that he gave her a name. Further, “woman” (ishah) is not her name. He is man (ish) and she is woman (ishah). What they share in common is their “ish-ness”—they are both humans…They are equal but not the same.”

*sigh* Wouldn’t it be easier if scholars could just agree? There’s this small part of me that’s still asking – yeah, but is she EQUAL to man in all things. Since the text isn’t prescriptive here on this issue, I can only conclude that I’m missing the point the author was making to the original audience.

Back To The Original Design

So, we have this clearer picture of God’s original design for this relationship between Ish and Ishah. But we know that sin came into the garden and the humans were cursed. We have seen, throughout the course of history, how this split—this disunity, has created harm and conflict in relationships.

But then Jesus came. He brought in a new covenant. Paul writes in Galatians 3:26-29: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (NASB95).

Christ came to restore that unity. Equality isn’t the point – unity is.

So what does that mean?

If Unity Is The Goal - Let’s Ask Better Questions

What do you do if you’re part of a church tradition or denomination that doesn’t allow women to use certain giftings in Church-organized/sanctioned ministry and that’s left you on the outside?

Does that mean you won’t be held accountable for using and nurturing the giftings and talents you’ve been given to edify the body of Christ?

If your convictions lie with a church community or tradition that restricts the roles woman can fill, then knock the dust from your sandals and find other places where you can use your gifting.

Maybe you just start a small group in your home. Start a Bible Study on your own – or join one from another church or online. Write your own studies. Look for those you can mentor. Start your own ministry or join a parachurch ministry where you can exercise your giftings.

Perhaps you’ve landed on prayerfully considering finding a different church. That’s not a decision to make lightly. There are many women who remain active in communities where they disagree on the role of women, and that’s OK. Remember, the point is unity.

When The Original Design Is Corrupted

I think it's important here to include a caveat in this study, because there are a great many relationships out of balance. There are going to be seasons where one spouse carries more of the load, but it's something that's been agreed to, taken on voluntarily, and not taken for granted. Consider the husband who has to shoulder more of the household duties because his wife acquires a disability. The wife who shoulders more of the parental responsibility short term while the husband is finishing school. There are going to be these seasons.

But I mean when there's a perpetual imbalance, and the one taking on the extra mental and emotional load of the relationship feels taken for granted, unseen, less valued, or isn't heard. When there's abuse of any kind (emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, financial), seek professional help-immediately. There is no sense in this original design that woman is man's slave, servant, or subordinate in any way. Each is responsible for their own sin and spiritual maturity.

What’s your next step?

What do you bring to the table through your unique gifting blend? How do you create meaningful partnerships in ministry, in relationships, that show the whole image of God to the world as well as further God’s Kingdom?

This is an ongoing word study for me as I continue to heal and learn and grow. I revisit this study every couple of years to reexamine my thoughts and feelings to see if there’s any hurt filtering the way I’m reading Scripture, if there’s been healing that’s changed my lens.

Read scholarly works, and challenge your thinking on a regular basis. Loosely hold your convictions, be humble enough to critically examine your heart and new information instead of dismissing that which challenges your traditions out of hand. Allow room for grace for yourself and others.

Take Me To The First Post In This Series

Questions

Share about your particular spiritual gift blend. Can spiritual giftings change from one season to another or as need within a community arises? (If you’re not aware of what your spiritual giftings are, a quick search will call up at least a dozen quick surveys online to help you get started.)

Share or write down about a time where you felt minimized, less-than, in a ministry situation because you are a woman. How did that make you feel? What did you want to hear in that situation?

Write a letter to your younger self with the encouragement, wisdom, and discernment you have now about navigating ministry work in the Church. What cautions would you share? What lessons would you impart? What Scripture would you leave that younger woman with as she forges ahead to live out what she feels God has called her to?

Share about, or write about, a couple (a married couple, co-leaders in ministry or even a team working in the community) who seem to live out this idea of an ‘ally parallel to’ one another. What makes them different? What can you learn from that relationship and apply to your own life, ministry situation, or relationships?

In your own words, share what you see the role of women (as God intended it to be in the Garden) to be in God’s Kingdom. What do you see as your limits, the special attributes you can bring, and what kind of partnerships you need to step into or create?

It’s never a bad time to seek out a mentor – an older woman who is farther along life’s journey in one way or another than you. Make a list of those women who you might consider asking, and then reach out to one. Ask them to go for coffee or a walk and ask them! If there’s no one in your circles who might suit, there are many paper mentors available – which author might you pick up and learn from for the particular season of life you’re in?