וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹא־ט֛וֹב הֱי֥וֹת הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְבַדּ֑וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ

The LORD God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him.”

Genesis 2:18

Discussion Questions

1. What if these characters were queer women?
2. What themes does this passage hint at that are relevant to queer women?
3. How does centering queer women change the meaning of the text?

Commentary

Sarah Session (Winter 2018)

Water

Adam (Note: this was in Hebrew) is a gender-neutral being – non-binary, not restricted to our categories

Eve is a woman therefore queer relationship

Earth

As a queer woman, Eve births the rest of humanity

Fire

(Note: Hebrew term unclear) is masculine not feminine – God doesn’t say to Adam that God will make a female partner therefore we can interpret that men can be with men and women can be with women. God would not want people to live a life of celibacy based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Air

Commitment in relationships – emphasize feelings and sex positivity and connection in relationships

Power and information – knowing partner

If we can find space for male/male sexuality in the text, then all the more so (Note: Hebrew term unclear) woman/woman or nonbinary sexuality

Bilhah Session (Summer 2023)

Water

God feels as social creatures we should not [indecipherable]

Will the opinions of Queer women would have completely changed the history how Queer women viewed

The presence of queer women would have changed the creation story

Lillith was not a fitting counterpart!

Earth

The vagueness of the passage could indicate a queer narrative

If you don’t ban it, it must be okay?

If Adam is considered male

If there is a queer narrative, queer woman must be in there somewhere.

What if your fitting counterpart is of the same sex?

Fire

Queerness by definition is misfit

Queerness keeps one from loneliness