Understanding βοηθέω (boētheō) Strong’s G997: The Divine Rescue that Reveals God’s Compassionate Intervention

Pronunciation Guide: bo-ay-theh’-o (with emphasis on the second syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G997: βοηθέω (boētheō) fundamentally means “to come to the aid of someone in need” or “to help, assist, or rescue.” It carries the sense of rushing to provide assistance when someone calls for help, often in urgent or desperate situations. The word conveys not just assistance, but a responsive rescue motivated by hearing another’s cry.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Verb
• Compound word from βοή (boē, “a cry, shout”) and θέω (theō, “to run”)
• Literally means “to run upon a cry for help”
• Primarily used in narrative passages and epistles
• Common in contexts of desperate need or emergency
• Middle voice usage emphasizes personal involvement in helping

βοηθέω Morphology:

• βοηθῶ (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I help/assist
• βοηθεῖς (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you help/assist
• βοηθεῖ (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it helps/assists
• βοηθοῦμεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we help/assist
• βοηθεῖτε (present active indicative, 2nd person plural) – you (plural) help/assist
• βοηθοῦσι(ν) (present active indicative, 3rd person plural) – they help/assist
• βοήθησον (aorist active imperative, 2nd person singular) – help! (command to one person)
• βοηθήσατε (aorist active imperative, 2nd person plural) – help! (command to multiple people)

Origin & History

The etymology of βοηθέω beautifully captures its essential meaning. It combines βοή (boē), “a cry or shout for help,” with θέω (theō), “to run.” Thus, at its core, βοηθέω means “to run to someone’s aid upon hearing their cry for help.” This vivid imagery would have resonated with ancient Greek speakers, portraying someone who not only provides assistance but does so with urgency and genuine concern.

In classical Greek literature, the term appears in Homer’s “Iliad” where it describes warriors rushing to assist their comrades in battle. Thucydides uses it in his “History of the Peloponnesian War” to describe military aid between city-states. The Septuagint (LXX) employs βοηθέω frequently to translate the Hebrew word עָזַר (azar), which similarly means “to help or assist,” especially when describing God’s intervention on behalf of His people. In the writings of the early church fathers, such as Clement of Rome in his “First Epistle to the Corinthians,” βοηθέω describes how believers should provide practical aid to one another as an expression of their faith.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To come to the aid of someone who cries out for help
• To provide rescue in a situation of danger or distress
• To render assistance or support to one in need
• To intervene on behalf of someone who cannot help themselves
• To bring relief or remedy to a difficult situation

βοηθέω Translation Options:

• “To help” – The most common translation, though it lacks the urgency implied in the original
• “To rescue” – Captures the emergency nature of many contexts where βοηθέω appears
• “To come to the aid of” – Reflects the movement aspect inherent in the etymology
• “To respond to a cry for help” – Most precisely captures the word’s compound meaning
• “To provide assistance” – Useful when the emphasis is on meeting a specific need

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, βοηθέω appears 8 times, often in contexts of urgent distress where divine or human assistance is desperately needed. Its first appearance in Matthew 15:25 highlights the Canaanite woman’s desperate plea to Yeshua (Jesus) for her demon-possessed daughter: “Lord, help me!” This encapsulates the word’s essence—a cry for assistance when all other options have been exhausted.

The term carries theological significance when applied to God or Messiah Yeshua, demonstrating divine compassion and willingness to intervene in human suffering. It also appears in contexts of believers helping one another, showing that the community of faith is called to reflect God’s character by responding to needs. In the Septuagint, βοηθέω frequently describes God’s intervention on behalf of Israel, emphasizing יהוה’s faithfulness to His covenant promises.

• “But she came and knelt before Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me [βοήθει]!'” Matthew 15:25
• “I believe; help [βοήθει] my unbelief!” Mark 9:24
• “And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.'” Mark 7:34-37 (context for healing work of Messiah that illustrates divine βοήθει)
• “And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,” Mark 6:48-51 (context of divine intervention and rescue, core meaning of βοήθει)
• “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over [βοήθησον] to Macedonia and help us.'” Acts 16:9
• “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help [βοηθείας] in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16
• “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper [βοηθός]; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” Hebrews 13:6

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, the concept of βοηθέω was deeply embedded in the cultural value of reciprocal relationships. When someone cried “βοήθει!” (“help!”), it created a social obligation for those who heard to respond. This was particularly important in a world without formalized emergency services or widespread social safety nets. Communities survived through interdependence, with the understanding that those who helped others would themselves receive help when needed.

For Jewish listeners, βοηθέω would have evoked rich theological associations with God’s character as revealed throughout the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures). The Psalms frequently use the Hebrew equivalent עָזַר (azar) to describe יהוה’s rescue of His people: “Our help [עֶזְרֵנוּ, translated as βοηθός in the LXX] is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8). When Yeshua responded to cries of “βοήθει,” He was fulfilling Israel’s expectations of divine rescue and revealing Himself as the embodiment of יהוה’s covenant faithfulness.

Theological Significance

βοηθέω reveals a profound truth about God’s character: He is attentive to human cries and responsive to our needs. When Scripture describes God as our helper (βοηθός), it affirms that the sovereign Creator of the universe inclines His ear to human suffering and moves toward us with compassion. This divine willingness to help is not grudging or reluctant but flows from יהוה’s covenant love (חֶסֶד, chesed) for His people.

The incarnation of Messiah Yeshua represents the ultimate expression of divine βοηθέω—God literally “running to our aid” by taking on human flesh. Yeshua’s ministry consistently demonstrated this helping nature as He responded to cries for physical healing, deliverance from spiritual oppression, and forgiveness of sins. His sacrificial death on the cross provides the supreme βοήθεια (help) that humanity needs most: rescue from sin and reconciliation with God.

For believers, receiving God’s help creates a responsibility to become channels of that same help to others. The New Testament community is called to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), reflecting the character of the God who first came to our aid. This creates a beautiful cycle where those who have been helped by God become agents of divine help to a broken world.

Personal Application

When we truly understand βοηθέω, we recognize that crying out “Lord, help me!” is not a sign of spiritual weakness but an acknowledgment of our dependence on God. The Canaanite woman’s simple prayer in Matthew 15:25 models authentic faith—acknowledging both our desperate need and God’s abundant capacity to meet it. In your own moments of helplessness, remember that you serve a God who runs toward the sound of your cry.

The concept of βοηθέω also challenges us to examine how we respond when we hear others’ cries for help. Do we, like Messiah, move toward suffering with compassion? Or do we turn away, preoccupied with our own concerns? Becoming a person who embodies βοηθέω means developing spiritual attentiveness to the needs around us and a willingness to be interrupted. It means being God’s hands and feet, running to provide aid when we hear the cries of the hurting, the lonely, and the lost.

Related Words

• βοηθός (boēthos) – helper, one who comes to the aid of another; used as a title for God and a description of mature believers. This noun form emphasizes the character of one who consistently provides aid. See G998
• βοήθεια (boētheia) – help, assistance, aid; refers to the actual support rendered or the resources provided in helping another. This abstract noun focuses on the action or result of helping. See G996
• ἀντιλαμβάνομαι (antilambanōmai) – to take hold of, to help; emphasizes grabbing hold of someone to support them, with connotations of strength and power in the assistance. See G482
• συλλαμβάνω (syllambanō) – to assist, to help by taking part with; literally means “to take hold together with” and emphasizes collaborative effort in providing help. See G4815
• παρίστημι (paristēmi) – to stand beside, to help by being present; focuses on the supportive presence of the helper rather than specific actions taken. See G3936

Did you Know?

• Did you know that in ancient Greek maritime culture, βοηθέω had special significance? When ships were in distress at sea, sailors would cry “βοήθει!” to nearby vessels, creating a moral obligation for other ships to come to their rescue regardless of nationality or political alliance. This custom saved countless lives and later influenced international maritime law, which still requires ships to assist others in distress. This cultural practice illuminates the imperative nature of the help described by βοηθέω—it wasn’t optional assistance but a binding duty to respond to cries of distress.
• Did you know that βοηθέω is related to the name of the ancient Greek festival Boedromia? This festival commemorated a legendary rescue when Theseus received divine help in battle. It was celebrated in Athens during the month Boedromion (roughly corresponding to September/October). During this festival, Athenians would remember instances when they had received help in desperate circumstances and renew their commitment to provide similar aid to others. This cultural connection highlights how the concept of responsive rescue was celebrated and institutionalized in ancient Greek society.
• Did you know that modern Greek still uses βοηθώ (the contemporary form of βοηθέω) as the standard word for “to help”? Unlike many New Testament Greek words that have fallen out of common usage, βοηθώ remains vibrant in everyday speech. Greeks today use it for everything from asking for assistance with homework to calling emergency services. This linguistic continuity provides a rare direct connection to biblical language—when Greek speakers today cry “Βοήθεια!” (Help!) in an emergency, they’re using essentially the same word the Canaanite woman used when she approached Yeshua for her daughter’s healing.

Remember This

When we cry “Lord, help me!” (βοήθει), we’re not merely requesting assistance—we’re invoking the character of a God who runs toward our cries, whose very nature is to rescue, and whose greatest demonstration of help came in the person of Messiah Yeshua.