The word "neged" comes from the verbal root "nagad" meaning "to be face to face." This verb is always used in the causative form where it would literally be translated as "to make to be face to face" and also means "to tell." The noun form, "neged" is often used for something that is face to face with something else such as in Genesis 21:16 (min-neged) where Hagar went and sat down "opposite to" her son but a distance away.
neged = in front of; in sight of; opposite to - from nagad; to be conspicuous; tell
Used 370 x. translated as: answered (3), another (1), certainly told (1), confess (1), confront* (1), declare (46), declared (13), declares (6), declaring (4), denounce (2), describe (1), disclosed (1), display (1), explain (3), fully reported (1), give evidence (1), indeed tell (1), inform (3), informed (1), informs (2), know (1), known (1), made known (4), make...known (1), messenger (2), related (2), remind (1), report (2), reported (10), reported* (1), show (2), shown (2), surely report (1), surely tell (1), tell (101), telling (2), tells (3), told (131), told plainly (1), uttered (1).
This root - nun/gimel/dalet - relays two nuances that are ignored in the traditional church view of the woman. First, the woman is brought out of the man to face him, to be in front of him in a way that he cannot dismiss, one with equal footing, and second to denote one who speaks, tells, declares, explains, informs.
The prefix "ke" in the word “k'negdo" means like, as, corresponding to, and the suffix "o" means "of him." Putting all of this together, ezer k'negdo is translated literally: "a helper like one opposite of him."
Sorry to seem to be beating this horse, but let's look again at "very good" becoming "not good". Remember, the Adam (humankind) had been created in the image of YHVH and something happened that made it necessary to separate the single entity of the Adam into the manifestations of man and woman or ezer k'negdo as defined above.
Question: Was it possible that Adam was shutting out this part of him and in order for it to be fully realized, YHVH had to bring it out to face him, to make it impossible for him to ignore? Once again, this is not about sex as much as it is about relationship.
Let's say for a minute that they had to be separated to fulfill the mandate to procreate, which is one of the teachings used to put woman in her place. Where in the text does it say this? Yes, they are commanded to be fruitful and multiply, but that is not the stated FUNCTION as defined by the term ezer k'negdo. She is brought out for the role of ezer k'negdo. The fact that she is physiologically capable of bearing children is a side issue at this point. YHVH did not say, "I will make you a child bearer", He said, "I will make you someone corresponding to, yet opposite, with ability to inform."
Please, don't take this to mean I am against women bearing children. I think this is one of the most amazing things about being woman. No man could ever know the conflicting emotions of having another human being growing inside you, the pain of birthing and the wonder of seeing the fruit of your womb the first time! BUT!!!! The life and purpose of woman cannot be summed up in the ability to bear children. I am not trying to discount the different aspects of womanhood, I am simply trying to get back to the original intent (the Truth) of what YHVH had in mind when He separated the woman out of the man. And that means seeing what He said and not what years of misinterpretation make it mean.
Before we move out into Genesis three, I will share a little of where the idea that woman is subordinate came from. Also look at the difference between subordination and submission.
until next time . . .
neged = in front of; in sight of; opposite to - from nagad; to be conspicuous; tell
Used 370 x. translated as: answered (3), another (1), certainly told (1), confess (1), confront* (1), declare (46), declared (13), declares (6), declaring (4), denounce (2), describe (1), disclosed (1), display (1), explain (3), fully reported (1), give evidence (1), indeed tell (1), inform (3), informed (1), informs (2), know (1), known (1), made known (4), make...known (1), messenger (2), related (2), remind (1), report (2), reported (10), reported* (1), show (2), shown (2), surely report (1), surely tell (1), tell (101), telling (2), tells (3), told (131), told plainly (1), uttered (1).
This root - nun/gimel/dalet - relays two nuances that are ignored in the traditional church view of the woman. First, the woman is brought out of the man to face him, to be in front of him in a way that he cannot dismiss, one with equal footing, and second to denote one who speaks, tells, declares, explains, informs.
The prefix "ke" in the word “k'negdo" means like, as, corresponding to, and the suffix "o" means "of him." Putting all of this together, ezer k'negdo is translated literally: "a helper like one opposite of him."
Sorry to seem to be beating this horse, but let's look again at "very good" becoming "not good". Remember, the Adam (humankind) had been created in the image of YHVH and something happened that made it necessary to separate the single entity of the Adam into the manifestations of man and woman or ezer k'negdo as defined above.
Question: Was it possible that Adam was shutting out this part of him and in order for it to be fully realized, YHVH had to bring it out to face him, to make it impossible for him to ignore? Once again, this is not about sex as much as it is about relationship.
Let's say for a minute that they had to be separated to fulfill the mandate to procreate, which is one of the teachings used to put woman in her place. Where in the text does it say this? Yes, they are commanded to be fruitful and multiply, but that is not the stated FUNCTION as defined by the term ezer k'negdo. She is brought out for the role of ezer k'negdo. The fact that she is physiologically capable of bearing children is a side issue at this point. YHVH did not say, "I will make you a child bearer", He said, "I will make you someone corresponding to, yet opposite, with ability to inform."
Please, don't take this to mean I am against women bearing children. I think this is one of the most amazing things about being woman. No man could ever know the conflicting emotions of having another human being growing inside you, the pain of birthing and the wonder of seeing the fruit of your womb the first time! BUT!!!! The life and purpose of woman cannot be summed up in the ability to bear children. I am not trying to discount the different aspects of womanhood, I am simply trying to get back to the original intent (the Truth) of what YHVH had in mind when He separated the woman out of the man. And that means seeing what He said and not what years of misinterpretation make it mean.
Before we move out into Genesis three, I will share a little of where the idea that woman is subordinate came from. Also look at the difference between subordination and submission.
until next time . . .
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