Genesis 2:18

18 ADONAI, God, said, "It isn't good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him."

Genesis 2:18 Meaning and Commentary

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" ^F2, 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 the affairs of life, not only for the propagation of his species, but to provide things useful and comfortable for him; to dress his food, and take care of the affairs of the family; one "like himself" ^F3, in nature, temper, and disposition, in form and shape; or one "as before him" ^F4, that would be pleasing to his sight, and with whom he might delightfully converse, and be in all respects agreeable to him, and entirely answerable to his case and circumstances, his wants and wishes.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (rmayw) "dixerat", Vatablus, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F3 (wdgnk) "simile sibi", V. L. Sam. Syr.
F4 "Tanquam coram eo", Montanus.

Genesis 2:18 In-Context

16 ADONAI, God, gave the person this order: "You may freely eat from every tree in the garden

17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die."

18 ADONAI, God, said, "It isn't good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him."

19 So from the ground ADONAI, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name.

20 So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him.