Chris has this right!
There is a big translational bias with the word "helper" being used in Genesis 2:18. It makes it sound like man is in charge of dominion, and woman is just supposed to stay at home, and help keep a nice household where the man can rest after a hard day of caring for the earth and following God. (She is the man's assistant, wife, mother of his children, and manager of his home!) This leaves out up to 60% of women in the US, and millions worldwide, because these women are single and not married!
The use of the word "helper" or "helpmeet" has lead to the belief that God gave primary roles and responsibiliites to men, and secondary, supporting rules to women. This in turn, can lead to treating women as second class Christians.
In order to eliminate translational bias, the best thing is to compare the word in the Hebrew to the other places where the same word is used.
"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him" Gen. 2:18 ESV
However, Hebrew says something quite different in the bolded words above in Gen. 2:18. First the word "fit" in this ESV version, which is sometimes translated "suitable" or in the KJV "(help)meet" is the word in Hebrew "kenegdo." This word indicates the woman is the man's match. Kenegdo suggests that what God creates for Adam will correspond to him. Thus the new creation (the woman) will be neither a superior nor an inferior, but an equal. The creation of this helper will form one-half of a polarity and will be to man as the South Pole is to the North Pole. The woman will be his strongest ally in pursing God's purposes and his first roadblock when he veers off course.
The word "helper" is the word "ezer" in Hebrew. It appears 21 times in the Old Testament, twice in Genesis for the woman, three times for nations to whom Israel appealed for military aide (Isa. 30:5, Ezek. 12:14, Daniel 11:34) and sixteen times for GOD as Israel's helper! (Exod. 18:4; Deut. 33:7, 26, 29; Psalm 20:2, 33:20, 70:5, 89:19, 115:9, 10,11; 121:1--2, 124:8, 146:5; Hosea 13:9)
This upgrades "ezer" from a mere "helper"to a "strong helper!" If you look up any of the other uses of the word "ezer" as listed above, you will find that ezer is consistently used in a military context. Israel seeks military aide from her neighbors. God is his people's "shield and defense," "better than chariots and horses", standing "sentry watch over his people."
Even in Eden, this word is used to denote that God's image bearers need to be on high alert and that fierce resistance lay ahead. Because a powerful enemy is plotting an attack.
So putting the facts about word useage together, ezer is best explained by the word, "warrior." God created his daughters to be ezer-warriors with our brothers. He deploys the ezer to break the man's aloneness by soldiering with the man wholeheartedly and at full strength for God's gracious kingdom. The man needs everything the woman brings to their global mission.
So sisters in Christ, who might be single, God has not left you out of his purposes and plans! Rejoice that God's mission is ongoing and we are all a vital part of that! The woman, like the man, is also God's creative masterpiece and a marvel to behold - for she is fearfully and wonderfully made!
