Understanding βοηθός (boēthos) Strong’s G998: God’s Divine Helper Who Comes to Our Rescue

Pronunciation Guide: bo-ay-thos’ (accent on the second syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G998: βοηθός (boēthos) refers to a helper, succourer, or one who comes to the aid of another in time of need. In biblical usage, it describes someone who responds to a cry for help and provides assistance, often with the connotation of rescue from danger or difficulty. The term carries the powerful imagery of one who rushes to provide aid when hearing a cry for help.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (masculine)
• Root Words: Derived from βοή (boē, “a cry for aid”) and θέω (theō, “to run”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Found in narrative and exhortational passages, particularly in contexts of divine assistance
• Semantic Domain: Help, Support, Protection, Deliverance

βοηθός Morphology:

• βοηθός (nominative singular) – a helper, one who comes to aid
• βοηθοῦ (genitive singular) – of a helper
• βοηθῷ (dative singular) – to/with a helper
• βοηθόν (accusative singular) – a helper (direct object)

Origin & History

The etymology of βοηθός beautifully captures its meaning as it combines βοή (boē), meaning “a cry for help” and θέω (theō), meaning “to run.” Thus, a βοηθός is literally “one who runs when hearing a cry for help.” This paints a vivid picture of someone who not only provides assistance but does so urgently and with purpose.

In classical Greek literature, the term was used in military contexts for allies who would come to assist in battle. Thucydides, in his “History of the Peloponnesian War,” employs the term to describe reinforcements rushing to aid embattled troops. In the Septuagint (LXX), βοηθός is used frequently to translate the Hebrew עֵזֶר (ezer), which describes God as Israel’s helper and protector. This connection is particularly significant as it establishes the divine dimension of the term long before its New Testament usage. The church father Clement of Rome uses this term in his epistle to the Corinthians (1 Clement 36:1) when referring to Messiah Jesus as our helper and protector.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Rescuer – One who delivers from danger or difficulty
• Defender – One who protects against adversaries or threats
• Supporter – One who provides strength and assistance
• Advocate – One who stands alongside another in time of need
• Succourer – One who provides relief in times of distress

βοηθός Translation Options:

• Helper – The most common translation, though it can miss the urgency implied in the original
• Defender – Emphasizes the protective aspect, particularly appropriate in contexts of spiritual warfare
• Rescuer – Captures the emergency response aspect of the term
• Ally – Highlights the partnership aspect of the relationship
• Aid-giver – Emphasizes the practical assistance provided

Biblical Usage

The term βοηθός appears primarily in contexts emphasizing God’s role as our helper and defender. In the New Testament, it only appears once as a noun in Hebrews 13:6, where the author quotes from Psalm 118:6-7, applying this divine role of helper directly to the relationship between God and believers. This connection is significant as it draws on the rich Hebraic understanding of God as Israel’s helper, establishing continuity between God’s covenantal relationship with Israel and His relationship with followers of the Messiah.

In the Septuagint, βοηθός appears frequently as a translation of the Hebrew עֵזֶר (ezer), particularly in the Psalms, where God is repeatedly described as Israel’s helper. This usage creates a theological foundation for understanding God’s role as the ultimate source of help and protection for His people, a theme that carries through to the New Testament application of the term.

• “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper [βοηθός], and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6
• “Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help [βοηθός] and our shield.” Psalm 33:20 (LXX)
• “Behold, God is my helper [βοηθός]; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.” Psalm 54:4 (LXX)
• “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help [βοηθός] and my deliverer.” Psalm 70:5 (LXX)
• “Happy is he whose help [βοηθός] is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” Psalm 146:5 (LXX)

Cultural Insights

In ancient Near Eastern culture, the concept of a “helper” carried much stronger connotations than our modern English understanding might suggest. A βοηθός was not merely an assistant but often a superior or at least equal partner who provided crucial support that the recipient could not provide for themselves. This understanding is crucial for properly interpreting the term’s usage in Scripture.

The Hebrew equivalent עֵזֶר (ezer) appears notably in Genesis 2:18, where Eve is described as a “suitable helper” for Adam. Far from implying subordination, this term carries the same weight as when it describes God as Israel’s helper. In ancient Jewish thought, to be someone’s עֵזֶר was a position of honor and strength, providing essential aid that the recipient desperately needed. This cultural framework illuminates why βοηθός can comfortably describe both God’s relationship to humans and human relationships with one another without diminishing the term’s significance.

Theological Significance

The theological richness of βοηθός lies in its revelation of God’s character as One who responds to His people’s cries. When Scripture declares “The Lord is my helper,” it affirms that God is attentive to our needs, responsive to our prayers, and active in our circumstances. This isn’t a distant deity who observes from afar but a loving Father who rushes to aid His children when they call.

This understanding of God as βοηθός also reveals the humility required in our relationship with Him. To acknowledge God as our helper is to recognize our own insufficiency and need for divine assistance. The paradox of faith is beautifully captured in this term: true strength comes through acknowledging our weakness and dependence on God. As the apostle Paul would later articulate, God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The singular New Testament use of βοηθός in Hebrews 13:6 places this divine help in contrast to human opposition, affirming that with God as our helper, we need not fear what people might do to us. This reveals another theological dimension of the term: God’s help provides not just practical assistance but spiritual courage and confidence in the face of adversity.

Personal Application

Understanding God as our βοηθός transforms how we approach challenges in our lives. When difficulties arise, we can remember that we have a Helper who not only hears our cries but rushes to our aid with divine power and perfect timing. This doesn’t mean trials will immediately disappear, but it assures us we never face them alone.

Practically, this truth invites us to develop a lifestyle of dependent prayer. Rather than viewing prayer as a last resort when all human efforts have failed, we can make it our first response, acknowledging God as our helper from the outset. When we pray “Help me, Lord,” we’re not informing God of something He doesn’t know; we’re positioning ourselves to receive the aid He’s eager to provide. As we experience God’s help in our lives, we also become equipped to be βοηθός to others, extending the same compassionate assistance we’ve received from Him.

Related Words

• βοηθέω (boētheō) [bo-ay-theh’-o] – The verb form meaning “to help, assist, come to the aid of.” This term captures the action of providing help rather than the role of helper. See G997
• βοήθεια (boētheia) [bo-ay’-thei-a] – The abstract noun form meaning “help, assistance, aid.” This refers to the actual assistance provided rather than the person providing it. See G996
• παράκλητος (paraklētos) [par-ak’-lay-tos] – While translated as “Comforter” or “Advocate,” this term describes one called alongside to help, sharing some conceptual overlap with βοηθός but emphasizing presence and advocacy. See G3875
• ἀντιλήμπτωρ (antilēmptōr) [an-tee-laymp’-tor] – A term used in the Septuagint meaning “supporter, helper,” emphasizing the aspect of upholding or sustaining someone in need. See G482
• συνεργός (synergos) [soon-er-gos’] – Meaning “fellow worker” or “co-laborer,” this term describes one who works alongside in partnership, sharing the task rather than coming to rescue. See G4904

Did You Know?

• Did you know that in ancient Athens, ships called βοηθοί were kept ready for immediate dispatch to aid other vessels in distress? These “helper ships” were essential to the naval strategy of the Greeks and provide a powerful visual metaphor for understanding the readiness of God to come to our aid when we call on Him.
• Did you know that the Hebrew word עֵזֶר (ezer), which βοηθός translates in the Septuagint, appears 21 times in the Hebrew Bible, and in 16 of those instances, it refers directly to God as Israel’s helper? This divine association elevates the concept far beyond mere assistance to a covenant promise of God’s protective presence with His people.
• Did you know that modern Greek still uses the word βοηθός today? In contemporary Greek, it retains much of its ancient meaning, referring to an assistant or helper in various professional contexts. The persistence of this term through thousands of years of language evolution testifies to the enduring importance of the helper role in human society.

Remember This

βοηθός reminds us that the God of the universe stands ready to run to our aid when we cry out to Him—not as a distant observer, but as a loving Father whose very nature is to help, protect, and deliver His children.