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.
'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
'der Helfer' and 'der Samariter' can both refer to a helpful person. 'Helfer' is the general word for someone who provides support. The help can be small, planned, or very practical. 'Samariter' places more emphasis on someone helping selflessly, especially a person in need. The word sounds a little more elevated and recalls the 'barmherziger Samariter' (Good Samaritan). In addition, 'Samariter' can mean a member of an aid organization. In everyday language, 'Helfer' is more neutral and more often appropriate; 'Samariter' fits when the help is especially selfless or connected with first aid.
Ein Samariter blieb am Unfallort und versorgte den verletzten Radfahrer.
A first-aid volunteer stayed at the accident scene and treated the injured cyclist.
Maria suchte nach dem Unterricht einen Helfer für den kaputten Computer.
After class, Maria looked for a helper for the broken computer.