clarice

I also wanted to say that I think there are more ways to interpret how the ezer kenegdo is suppose to be defined. I notice that people always talk about the word ezer (meaning strong help, rescuer) is always applied to God in most respects. Yet, kenegdo is almost ignored. I do accept the jewish definition of ezer kenegdo as strong helper against him, but I also think taking a closer look at the root word neged is in order. Ezer kenegdo can mean strong help before him, but what ways is the woman before the man as a strong ally. I thought if ezer can be applied to God to define ezer as applied to the woman, why can’t neged be as well? Of course, neged applied to God isn’t as numerous in the bible as compared to ezer. However, I noticed Psalms 16:8:

“I have set the lord continually before (neged) me; because he is at my right hand; I will not be shaken.”

King David wrote Psalm 16 asking God to keep him safe and give him refuge. Can the wife be before her husband as a strong ally to keep him safe and give him refuge? I also notice that words such as forsake and cleave are used to describe the covenant between God and Israel. Forsake and cleave is clearly marriage covenant language in Genesis 2:24 where the man forsakes his parents to cleave to his wife. When David was hiding out in the desert from Saul in he says to God in Psalms 63:8:

“I cleave to you; your strong right hand holds me securely”.

The word cleave is the same one describing the husband cleaving to
his wife in Genesis 2:24. In both Psalms; David describes the lord as his helper, rescuer, guide, protector, strong right hand, etc. The Psalms clearly speak of a covenant with David and God as well as God and Israel. Could it be that the wife is a strong ally before him so that he can cleave to her-his strong right hand? I think this is a valid interpretation.