G997 βοηθέω (boēthéō)

BoÄ"théō (997 from boé = a cry, exclamation + théō = to run) means to run on hearing a cry, to give assistance. Boethéo means to succor (KJV reads "He is able to succour them that are tempted") which is a word you may not be too familiar with, but which means literally to run to or run to support hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; as, to succor a besieged city; to succor prisoners. (succor is derived from Latin succurrere = to run up, run to help, from sub- = up + currere to run). Boethéo is used 8 times in the NT (Mt 15:25; Mk 9:22, 24; Acts 16:9; 21:28; 2Co 6:2; He 2:18; Re 12:16) and is translated: come to the aid, 1; come to...aid, 1; help, 4; helped, 2. Boethéo is used 77 times in the Septuagint (LXX = Greek of Hebrew OT) compared with only 8 uses in the NT. - Gen. 49:25; Deut. 22:27; 28:29, 31; 32:38; Jos 10:4, 6, 33; 1Sa 7:12; 2Sa 8:5; 18:3; 21:17; 1Ki 1:7; 2Ki 14:26; 1Chr. 12:1, 18, 19, 33, 36; 18:5; 19:19; 2Chr. 19:2; 26:13, 15; 28:16; Ezra 5:2; 10:15; Esther 4:17; 8:11; 9:16; Job 4:20; 20:14; 26:2; 29:12; Ps. 10:14; 22:11; 28:7; 37:40; 40:13; 41:3; 44:26; 46:5; 54:4; 70:5; 79:9; 86:17; 94:17, 18; 107:12, 41; 109:26; 119:86, 117, 175; Pr 3:27; 13:12; 18:19; 20:9; 28:18; Eccl. 7:19; Isa 10:3; 30:2; 31:3; 41:6, 10, 14; 44:2; 49:8; 50:9; 60:15; Lam 1:7; Ezek 30:8; Da 6:14; 10:13, 21; 11:34, 45; Hos 13:9. Luke give us an added picture of the meaning of the verb boethéo in his use of the related noun form, boetheia, writing that "after they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables (boetheia - KJV "helps") in under girding the ship" (Acts 27:17). Here boetheia refers specifically a rope or chain for frapping a vessel to keep the beams from separating. Frapping (derived from Mid French [fraper] to draw tight as with ropes or cables) means a lashing binding a thing tightly or binding things together. Mt 15:25 But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" In the district of Tyre and Sidon a Canaanite woman repeatedly entreated Jesus to have mercy on her and her demon-possessed daughter, responding to His declaration that He "was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" with both words and actions, falling upon her knees, touching her forehead to the ground in profound reverence before Him, saying “Lord, help (boethéo) me!” 26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once." (Mt 15:24-28). Perhaps right now you need to take a moment and like the Canaanite woman, bow down in worship, reminding yourself that your the Lord Jesus (The LORD your Helper) is ready, able and willing to run to your assistance no matter the "size or shape" of your test or temptation Mk 9:22 "And it has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help (boethéo) us!" 23 And Jesus said to him, "'If You can!' All things are possible to him who believes."24 Immediately the boy's father cried out and began saying, "I do believe; help (boethéo) my unbelief." 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again." In this episode involving a demon possessed boy, his father said to Jesus that the demon had "often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help (boethéo) us (aorist imperative = "Help us at once")!” (Mk 9:22) Jesus responded to the father "If You can!’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, “I do believe; help (boethéo) my unbelief.” (Mk 9:23-24) The result? Jesus ordered the demon to leave the boy and restored him to his father. (Mk 9:25-27) And beloved Jesus is able to run to your aid when He hears your cry for His help. Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help (boethéo) us." (Play the hymn Come Over and Help Us) On his second missionary journey, Luke records that "a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us (give us aid).” (Acts 16:9) The man of Macedonia in using the plural for himself speaks for Europe, and his cry for help Europe’s need of Christ. Paul recognized a divine summons in the vision. Kent Hughes helps us understand the picture of the verb boethéo remarking that "This was one of the great turning points of history, and we should thank God for it, for as a result the gospel has come to us in the West. Nothing makes a person strong like hearing someone cry for help! You can be walking down the street completely fatigued so that you would like to lie down on the curb and go to sleep, but then you hear a cry—someone is in trouble!—and you completely forget your weariness. Paul and his associates moved forward in the power of Christ’s strength." (Hughes, R. K.. Acts: The church afire. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books) Acts 21:28 crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid (boethéo)! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people, and the Law, and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." Unbelieving Jews from Asia who were in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost "upon seeing (Paul) in the temple (of Herod), began to stir up all the multitude and laid hands on him, (then they began continually) crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! (boethéo - Acting as though Paul had committed an act of blasphemy, they called for help in dealing with it - a vivid picture of the meaning of running to the aid of one who cries out for aid!). This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people, and the Law, and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place. For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple." (Ac 21:27-29) Wuest translates the verse as "they laid their hands on him, crying out, Men, Israelites, be bringing aid" 2Cor 6:2 He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED (boethéo) YOU"; behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION" Paul addressing the Corinthians, either saved (who were not living in grace) or unsaved (who had never received grace) and warning them not to receive the grace of God in vain, quotes the Septuagint (Greek of the Hebrew OT) of (Isa 49:8) where God says "at the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped (boethéo) you ("I ran to your cry and brought you aid" Wuest)” ;behold, now is “the acceptable time (now is a propitious, favorably disposed, epochal season),” behold, now is “the day of salvation” (2 Co 6:2) Heb 2:18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid (boethéo) of those who are tempted. In the OT the Hebrew word for "help" is "ezer". Samuel took a stone (eben) and named it Eben-ezer as a memorial commemorating Israel's victory (actually God's victory) over the Philistines. The Scripture records that "Samuel took a stone (eben) and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer (LXX = "Stone of the Helper" Greek = noun boÄ"thós), saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped (boetheia) us." (1Sa7:12) Genesis 49:25 From the God of your father who helps ('azar) (boethéo) you, And by the Almighty who blesses you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped ('azar) us." (Click here for note) 2 Kings 14:26 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter; for there was neither bond nor free, nor was there any helper ('azar) for Israel. 1 Chronicles 12:18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said, "We are yours, O David, And with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to him who helps you; Indeed, your God helps ('azar) you!" Then David received them and made them captains of the band. 2 Chronicles 28:16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help ('azar). Psalm 10:14 Thou hast seen it, for Thou hast beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Thy hand. The unfortunate commits himself to Thee; Thou hast been the helper ('azar) of the orphan. Psalm 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help.('azar) Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped ('azar); Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. (Click here for note) Psalm 37:40 And the LORD helps ('azar) them, and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him. (Click here for note) Psalm 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; Make haste, O LORD, to help ('azar) me. Psalm 44:26 Rise up, be our help ('ezra), and redeem us for the sake of Thy lovingkindness. Psalm 46:5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help ('azar) her when morning dawns. (Click here for note) Psalm 54:4 Behold, God is my Helper ('azar); The Lord is the sustainer of my soul. (Click here for note) Psalm 70:5 But I am afflicted and needy; Hasten to me, O God! Thou art my help ('ezer) and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay. Psalm 86:17 Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it, and be ashamed, Because Thou, O LORD, hast helped ('azar) me and comforted me. Psalm 94:17 If the LORD had not been my help ('ezra), My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. 18 If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. Psalm 119:86 All Thy commandments are faithful; They have persecuted me with a lie; help ('azar) me! Psalm 119:175 Let my soul live that it may praise Thee, And let Thine ordinances help ('azar) me. Isaiah 41:6 Each one helps ('azar) his neighbor, And says to his brother, "Be strong!" Isaiah 41:10,14 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help ('azar) you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' 14 "Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help ('azar) you," declares the LORD, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 44:2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help ('azar) you, 'Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. Isaiah 49:8 Thus says the LORD, "In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped ('azar) You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; Isaiah 50:9 Behold, the Lord God helps ('azar) Me; Who is he who condemns Me? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; The moth will eat them. Lamentations 1:7 In the days of her affliction and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all her precious things That were from the days of old When her people fell into the hand of the adversary, And no one helped ('azar) her. The adversaries saw her, They mocked at her ruin. Hosea 13:9 It is your destruction, O Israel, That you are against Me, against your help ('ezer). "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/word_study_on_help.htm#boetheo