While the first creation account in Genesis (Genesis 1) notes that entire mankind was created together on the sixth day, this second account appears to show a time gap between the creation of man and woman. Why was there a need to create woman, why did God designate her as a ‘helper,’ and what does a holy union truly mean in God’s eyes?
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Genesis 2:18 (NIV)
Man needs a companion because, although God visited the Garden in the cool of the day, man did not have God’s direct presence with him throughout the entire day. During these times, man and woman were meant to support and complement each other emotionally and physically. God created woman as a suitable partner for man so they could share life, work together, and care for creation. Together, they are called to rule over God’s creation and partner with Him, finding fulfillment in their shared companionship and their communion with God every day.
Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. – Genesis 2:19 (NIV)
God asked man to name the animals as a way of inviting him to actively participate in His creation plans. Just as we name our pets to signify care and relationship, God gave man the responsibility to name the animals, demonstrating trust and partnership. This act symbolizes man’s dominion over the creatures, reflecting the authority and stewardship God intended for humanity to have over His creation. By naming the animals, man not only fulfilled a practical role but also expressed his unique role as a co-laborer in God’s creation.
A Perfect Union
So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. – Genesis 2:20 (NIV)
The biggest question that comes to mind when reading this passage is whether women were created as helpers for men. The answer is yes, but not in the way we might commonly understand. The original Hebrew word ezer, translated as “helper,” is always used in the Bible in the context of God helping humanity—guiding us on our journey toward Him and rescuing us from trouble. Similarly, the purpose of an ezer is comparable to the helper Jesus gave us, the Holy Spirit, to assist us in connecting with God. In this sense, God gave Adam an ezer to help him maintain a connection with God. This was the true purpose of the union as God intended.
However, just as in the Garden of Eden, the union between man and woman led them to follow their own desires and move away from God. Marriages today are often viewed through a worldly lens: as a way to have children and secure a retirement plan, to achieve societal acceptance, or to double wealth and gain financial stability. Rarely is marriage considered from the perspective of helping each other commune with God.
The purpose of every union is to share intimate doubts about the journey back to the Garden and to strengthen each other’s faith in God, not to be a hindrance. Paul, in his letters to the church in Corinth, wrote that it is better to remain single if a union does not bring one closer to God. The purpose of any God-approved union is to support each other in drawing nearer to God. Yet, tragically, every union since the very first has often enabled humanity to stray further from the Garden.
Flesh and Bones
Thus the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, took a part of his side, and closed the place with flesh. From this, God created a woman and brought her to the man. The man declared, “She is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ because she was taken out of man.”
God chose not to create woman from dust to highlight that man and woman are one body, sharing the same breath of life given by Him. This act signifies their unity and equality in creation. While God sees no distinction between them, it is man who differentiates between himself and woman—a pattern that continues today, often leading to a misunderstanding of the true purpose of their relationship as intended by God.
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24 (NIV)
From its very inception, the institution of Marriage was supposed to unite two individuals to serve God as one body. Over the years, mankind, especially the forefathers and other leaders have had a hand in corrupting this sacred union. Marriage became a means to bear offspring and not a way for its members to unite with the goal of connecting with God.
While God intended for man and woman to be united as one soul, to seek their Creator, and over time to have offspring to not only populate the earth but also nurture them in the ways of God, we find that neither of these purposes are being followed. God wants us to put Him above anyone else in our lives. When He saw that man needed a companion, He provided a suitable partner. Whenever the Israelites conquered other nations, He commanded them to populate the land, lest they be overthrown by the enemy. So the institutions of marriage and family were created for man, not the other way around.
Return to Innocence
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. – Genesis 2:25 (NIV)
Eve was not named until after the fall. In Genesis 3:20, Adam named his wife Eve following their disobedience, symbolizing the shift to a world where man ruled over woman. The statement “they were both naked and felt no shame” reflects a state of innocence and transparency. Before the fall, Adam and Eve had nothing to hide, living in perfect harmony with one another and with God. There were no barriers between them or with God, and no shame in their openness and vulnerability.
Clothing, which later became a way to cover imperfections, was unnecessary in this innocent state. However, after the fall, the need for clothing emerged. God clothed all His creation naturally, but mankind, after the fall, desired additional covering. In His grace, God fulfilled this desire by making garments for Adam and Eve from animal skins, demonstrating His provision even in their fallen state.
The present-day state of our nuptials is in disarray because we have forgotten the intention with which God had instituted this union. If we go back to the garden, God did not intend to create a distraction for Adam but a support. Our unions should help serve God’s purpose in our combined lives. If we look at the example of Priscilla and Aquila, they both supported each other and served God together. Marriage is a double-edged sword and its power lies with its beholder. Whether some partners found Christ during their marriages and some found Christ before finding their halves, the one thing that is constant is God’s will in our lives. Let us not push God out of our lives to fulfill our own desires. Instead, let us return to the path that leads back to the Garden—the state of wholeness and dependence on God.
Discussion Questions
- Why did God say it was “not good for man to be alone,” and what does this reveal about man’s need for a companion?
- What might be the purpose behind God asking man to name the animals?
- Why do you think God created woman as a helper for man, and what does this role signify?
- What is the significance of God choosing not to create woman from dust as He did with man?
The Jordan Valley 
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