• HOME
  • SHARE TO FRIEND
  • Login
slider

The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...

Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University
from 2006 Bible Literary project

slider

It's not that it's impossible to read some writers without a Biblical background, but that you would miss a whole dimension to their work.

Prof. Steven Goldsmith, University of California at Berkeley
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

slider

I can only say that if a student doesn't know any Bible literature, he or she will simply not understand whole elements of Shakespeare, Sidney, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth

Prof. Robert Kiely, Harvard University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

slider

...there is truth in the remark. "without Tyndale[Bible translator], no Shakespeare"...

Prof. David Daniell, University College London
from The Bible in English

slider

You can't really study Western literature intelligently or coherently without starting with the Bible.

Prof. Gerald L. Bruns, University of Notre Dame
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

slider

...a familiar understanding of Christian doctrine in historical perspective thus contributes to a fuller appreciation of Shakespeare's art, but Shakespeare's art

Prof. Roland M. Frye
from Shakespeare and the Christian Doctrine

slider

In English tradition and also for an American tradition begun by Puritan writers, a knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is even more crucial than classical references.

Prof. Ulrich Knoefplmacher, Princeton University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

slider

There is no book more important for our culture than the Bible, and it is fundametal to the study of English literature and language.

Prof. David Jasper and Prof. Stephen Prickett
from the Bible and literature

Help mate (Genesis 2:18)

Picture description: Eve
Picture copyright: Public

bible verse

“And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18 KJV)
“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.” (New English Translation)
“And the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him.”(New Living Translation)

meaning

A helpmate is more aptly interpreted as someone valuable and indispensible.

origin and application

The word “helpmate” is probably derived from the above biblical verse. Eve was created to be Adam’s helpful companion because God found that Adam was alone. Some English Bible versions translated the Hebrew word עֵזֶר (’ezer) as “helper”, some, “companion”. This is because the Hebrew word has several connotations. A literal translation for that Hebrew verse is “a helper against him”. The Hebrew word does not necessarily suggest a subordinate role, but in English “helper” does have this meaning. In the present day context, a helpmate is more aptly interpreted as someone valuable and indispensible.

Keywords

companion    helper    helpmate    man    woman   

Related Information

NIV official site
Chinese Bible (???)

Search idiom or name
FIND THE ORIGIN OF IDIOMS

A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!

What's in a name?

Common names such as Joseph and Rachel have their origins in the Bible. Want to know their stories before picking the right name for yourself? Click here to find out.