Samaritan
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Good Samaritan
A person who acts selflessly and helpfully, especially toward someone in need. The term goes back to the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan.
Ein Samariter half der gestürzten Radfahrerin sofort wieder auf die Beine und rief einen Krankenwagen.
A Good Samaritan immediately helped the cyclist who had fallen get back on her feet and called an ambulance.
first-aid volunteer
A member of an aid organization that provides first aid and social services, such as the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB).
Bei dem Konzert waren mehrere Samariter für den medizinischen Notfall im Einsatz.
At the concert, several first-aid volunteers were on duty for medical emergencies.
Samaritan
A member of the ethno-religious community of Samaritans, historically based in the region of Samaria in the Middle East.
Die Religionsgemeinschaft der Samariter hat heute nur noch wenige hundert Mitglieder.
The religious community of the Samaritans has only a few hundred members today.
'Der Samariter' (the Samaritan) is a weak masculine noun (N-declension). This means that it takes the ending '-n' in the accusative, dative, and genitive singular.
Wir danken dem Samariter für seine schnelle Hilfe.
We thank the Samaritan for his quick help.
You can recognize the meaning from the context: If it is about selfless help in everyday life, a helpful person is meant. If the person is in uniform at an event, it means a member of an aid organization. In historical texts, it can refer to a member of the ancient religious community.
Ein Samariter leistete bei dem Verletzten sofort Erste Hilfe.
A Good Samaritan immediately gave first aid to the injured person.
The meaning as a 'helpful person' comes from the 'parable of the Good Samaritan' in the Bible. In it, a Samaritan helps an injured person even though others had not helped him.
Er verhielt sich wie ein echter Samariter und half dem Obdachlosen.
He behaved like a true Good Samaritan and helped the homeless man.
The fixed expression 'ein barmherziger Samariter' (a Good Samaritan) is used especially often to describe a very helpful person.
Als ich meinen Geldbeutel verloren hatte, brachte ihn ein barmherziger Samariter zurück.
When I had lost my wallet, a Good Samaritan brought it back.
helper
Helfer and Samariter refer to a person who supports someone in a difficult situation. Helfer describes this role neutrally, while Samariter also emphasizes selfless helpfulness and conveys a moral judgment. Use Helfer in general, and Samariter especially for selfless help given to people in need.
Als Samariter blieb er bei dem gestürzten Radfahrer, obwohl er selbst weitergehen musste.
As a Good Samaritan, he stayed with the fallen cyclist even though he had to move on himself.
Ein Helfer brachte dem gestürzten Radfahrer Wasser und rief den Rettungsdienst.
A helper brought the fallen cyclist some water and called the emergency services.
