Lexical Summary
etsah: counsel, advice, plan
Original Word:עֵצָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:`etsah
Pronunciation:ay-tsaw'
Phonetic Spelling:(ay-tsaw')
KJV: advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose
NASB:counsel, advice, plan, purpose, consultation, plans, counsels
Word Origin:[fromH3289 (יָעַץ - counselors)]
1. advice
2. (by implication) plan
3. (also) prudence
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
advice, advisement, counselor, purpose
Fromya'ats; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence -- advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.
see HEBREWya'ats
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
yaatsDefinitioncounsel, advice
NASB Translationadvice (11), consultation (2), counsel (52), counselor* (1), counselors* (1), counsels (1), designs (1), plan (8), plans (2), purpose (6), scheme (1), schemes (1), strategy (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(= ) —
Judges 20:7 28t.; construct
Isaiah 5:19 33t.; suffix
Proverbs 1:25 5t. (+
Isaiah 46:11 Qr; Kt better);
Psalm 20:5;
Psalm 73:24;
Hosea 10:6 7t. (including
Isaiah 46:10 Kt see supr);
Jeremiah 18:23 4t.; plural
Deuteronomy 32:28 2t.;
Isaiah 47:13; —
counsel, advice2 Samuel 15:31,34;
2 Samuel 16:23 (twice in verse);
2 Samuel 17:14 (3 t. in verse);
2 Samuel 17:23;
1 Kings 12:8,13,14 2Chron 10:8; 10:13; 10:14, 2 Chron 22:5; 25:16;
Ezra 10:3 (where read Reuss Ry),
Ezra 10:8;
Job 29:21; political
consultationIsaiah 47:13; as accusative of congnate meaning with verb
2 Samuel 17:7;
1 Kings 1:12;
Isaiah 8:10;
Ezekiel 11:2 (, "" ); with
give counselJudges 20:7;
2 Samuel 16:20;
Isaiah 16:3;
Isaiah 30:1;
Psalm 13:3; =
design, purposeEzra 4:5;
Nehemiah 4:9;
1 Chronicles 12:20 (Baer),
Psalm 14:6;
Psalm 20:5;
Jeremiah 18:23 (followed by =
against),
Jeremiah 49:30 ("" );
Psalm 33:10; suitable
counsel for war (= Generalship)
2 Kings 18:20 =
Isaiah 36:5 (compare
Proverbs 20:18 below); also
Zechariah 6:13counsel of peace; practical wisdom,
sagacityIsaiah 19:3, compare
Isaiah 19:11,
Jeremiah 19:7;
Deuteronomy 32:28 ("" ),
Hosea 10:6. Especially in Wisdom Literature and prophets;
counsel =
good counsle, wisdomJob 38:2;
Job 42:3;
Proverbs 12:15;
Proverbs 20:5 (its seat ); ""
Proverbs 8:14;
Isaiah 28:29 (of ); ""
Jeremiah 49:7; "" and
Job 12:13;
Proverbs 21:30; ""
Proverbs 19:20; ""
Proverbs 20:18 (compare
Isaiah 36:5 above);
Job 5:13;
Isaiah 11:2 ("" );
hearty counselProverbs 27:9;
counsel of wisdom, when wisdom is personified
Proverbs 1:25,30 ("" ); in bad sense
Job 10:3;
Job 21:16;
Job 22:18;
Psalm 1:1, compare
Job 18:7;
Psalm 106:43;
Isaiah 29:15; of plan of ;
Psalm 33:11;
Proverbs 19:21;
Isaiah 19:17;
Isaiah 14:26 ( ),
Isaiah 25:1;
Isaiah 46:10,11;
Isaiah 5:19; also
Micah 4:12;
Jeremiah 32:19 (),
Jeremiah 49:20;
Jeremiah 50:45;
Psalm 106:13;
Psalm 107:11; instruction, guiding wisdom of
Psalm 73:24; i.e. counsellor of
Isaiah 40:13; in figure
Psalm 119:24 =
my counsellors, said of testimonies of God; =
prophecy,
Isaiah 44:26 ("" );
Ezekiel 7:26 (compare
1 Kings 12:8; "" , ),
Jeremiah 18:18 ("" , ).
Topical Lexicon
Range of Usageעֵצָה appears roughly eighty-nine times across the Old Testament and spans the ideas of counsel, advice, plan, purpose, deliberation, strategy, and design. The contexts fall broadly into three spheres: (1) the steadfast counsel of God, (2) the variable counsel of human beings, and (3) the deceptive counsel of the wicked and of idols. Each occurrence underscores that every plan is ultimately judged by its alignment with the revealed will of the LORD.
Divine Counsel: Immutable and Sovereign
Psalm 33:11 declares, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations”. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that God’s counsel is:
• Eternal –Isaiah 46:10 “My counsel will stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.”
• Wise and wondrous –Isaiah 28:29 “This also comes from the LORD of Hosts—He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”
• Redemptive –Proverbs 19:21 “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.”
• Protective for His covenant people –Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.”
Old Testament saints found security by seeking and submitting to this counsel. Prophets trusted it when announcing both judgment and salvation (Jeremiah 49:20;Micah 4:12). Kings were judged by whether they inquired of it (1 Kings 22:5) or despised it (2 Chronicles 25:16).
Human Counsel: Wise, Limited, and Accountable
Positive examples:
• Jethro to Moses (Exodus 18:19-24). Moses accepted the counsel, implemented shared leadership, and the nation prospered.
• Jonathan to David (1 Samuel 19:1-7). Wise intercession preserved David’s life.
• Esther and Mordecai (Esther 4:13-16). Strategic counsel delivered the Jews from annihilation.
These passages commend humble receptivity to sound advice, rigorous evaluation against God’s word, and readiness to act.
Negative examples:
• Rehoboam rejected the elders’ counsel (1 Kings 12:6-15), splitting the kingdom.
• Ahaziah “walked in the counsel of the house of Ahab” (2 Chronicles 22:3) and died under judgment.
Human counsel, even when well-intentioned, remains fallible and must be subordinated to Scripture.
Wicked Counsel: Deceptive and Self-Destructive
Psalm 1:1 warns against “the counsel of the wicked.”Isaiah 19:13 portrays Egypt’s princes whose “counsel has become senseless.” Rebellious advice often involves:
• Trusting in military alliances instead of the LORD (Isaiah 30:1-2).
• Encouraging idolatry (Jeremiah 18:18).
• Plotting violence or deceit (Psalm 64:2;Micah 6:16).
Such counsel ultimately collapses because it opposes God’s sovereign plan (Job 5:13).
Counsel in Israel’s National Story
1. Formation: Moses relied on Jethro’s counsel, illustrating how godly advice shapes leadership structures.
2. Monarchy: The contrast between Ahithophel and Hushai (2 Samuel 15:31; 17:14) shows God overturning brilliant but ungodly strategy.
3. Exile and Restoration: Prophets announced that God’s counsel determined both exile (Jeremiah 25:9) and return (Isaiah 44:26-28).
Throughout, the nation thrived when it aligned with divine counsel and faltered when it pursued its own.
Counsel in Wisdom Literature
Proverbs elevates counsel to a staple of righteous living:
•Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.”
•Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.”
•Proverbs 20:18 “Set plans by consultation; wage war with sound guidance.”
Job wrestles with the distinction between man’s limited counsel and God’s omniscient counsel (Job 12:13; 38:2).
Psalms frames the blessed life around either receiving or rejecting counsel (Psalms 1; 16:7; 73:24).
Prophetic Uses
Prophets regularly anchor pronouncements of judgment or salvation in the certainty of God’s counsel:
• God’s counsel against Edom –Jeremiah 49:20.
• Counsel concerning Babylon –Jeremiah 50:45.
• Counsel ensuring the coming Messiah –Isaiah 11:2; 25:1.
These prophecies assure believers that historical events unfold under God’s intentional design.
Christological Implications
Isaiah 9:6 merges the concept into the messianic title “Wonderful Counselor.” Jesus Christ embodies and discloses the perfect counsel of God (Colossians 2:3). His teaching supersedes all human wisdom (Matthew 7:24-29) and fulfills the divine plan (Acts 2:23).
Ministry Application
1. Preaching and Teaching: Ministers must continually proclaim God’s counsel in its full breadth (Acts 20:27), resisting cultural or pragmatic dilution.
2. Pastoral Care: Biblical counseling aims to realign hearts with the LORD’s purposes, echoingPsalm 32:8.
3. Decision-Making: Congregations are encouraged to seek multiple godly voices while testing each plan against Scripture, prayer, and the Spirit’s witness.
4. Discipleship: Training believers to discern between wise and wicked counsel fortifies them against deception and fosters maturity.
Key Texts for Further Study
Genesis 41:37;Exodus 18:19-24;Numbers 31:16;Deuteronomy 32:28;2 Samuel 16:23;1 Kings 12:8;2 Chronicles 25:16;Ezra 4:5;Nehemiah 4:15;Esther 4:14;Job 12:13;Psalm 1:1;Psalm 33:11;Psalm 73:24;Proverbs 19:21;Proverbs 20:18;Isaiah 28:29;Isaiah 30:1-2;Jeremiah 49:20;Micah 4:12.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּעֵצָ֣ה בְעֵצָ֗ה בַּעֲצַ֣ת בַּעֲצַ֪ת בַּעֲצָתְךָ֥ בַּעֲצָתָם֮ בַעֲצָתָ֑ם בעצה בעצת בעצתך בעצתם הָֽעֵצָ֔ה הָעֵצָ֛ה הָעֵצָ֥ה העצה וְעֵצָ֖ה וְעֵצָה֙ וַעֲצַ֖ת וַעֲצַ֣ת וַעֲצַ֥ת וַעֲצָת֖וֹ ועצה ועצת ועצתו יֹעֲצֵ֣י יעצי כַּעֲצַ֤ת כעצת לְעֵצָ֣ה לַעֲצָתִ֑י לַעֲצָתִֽי׃ לַעֲצָתֽוֹ׃ לעצה לעצתו׃ לעצתי לעצתי׃ מֵֽעֲצַת־ מֵעֲצַ֖ת מֵעֲצָתֽוֹ׃ מעצת מעצת־ מעצתו׃ עֲצַ֖ת עֲצַ֛ת עֲצַ֣ת עֲצַ֤ת עֲצַ֥ת עֲצַ֨ת עֲצַת֙ עֲצַת־ עֲצָת֑וֹ עֲצָת֖וֹ עֲצָתְךָ֥ עֲצָתִ֑י עֲצָתִ֣י עֲצָתִֽי׃ עֲצָתָ֑יִךְ עֲצָתָ֑ם עֲצָתָ֤ם עֲצָתֽוֹ׃ עֲצָתוֹ֒ עֵ֝צָ֗ה עֵ֭צָה עֵצ֖וֹת עֵצ֡וֹת עֵצ֥וֹת עֵצָ֑ה עֵצָ֔ה עֵצָ֖ה עֵצָ֗ה עֵצָ֣ה עֵצָ֥ה עֵצָה֙ עצה עצות עצת עצת־ עצתו עצתו׃ עצתי עצתי׃ עצתיך עצתך עצתם ‘ă·ṣā·ṯā·yiḵ ‘ă·ṣā·ṯām ‘ă·ṣā·ṯə·ḵā ‘ă·ṣā·ṯî ‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw ‘ă·ṣaṯ ‘ă·ṣaṯ- ‘ăṣaṯ ‘ăṣaṯ- ‘ăṣāṯām ‘ăṣāṯāyiḵ ‘ăṣāṯəḵā ‘ăṣāṯî ‘ăṣāṯōw ‘ê·ṣāh ‘ê·ṣō·wṯ ‘êṣāh ‘êṣōwṯ aTzat atzaTam atzaTayich atzateCha atzaTi atzaTo ba‘ăṣaṯ ba‘ăṣāṯām ḇa‘ăṣāṯām ba‘ăṣāṯəḵā ba·‘ă·ṣā·ṯām ḇa·‘ă·ṣā·ṯām ba·‘ă·ṣā·ṯə·ḵā ba·‘ă·ṣaṯ baaTzat baatzaTam baatzateCha bə‘êṣāh ḇə‘êṣāh bə·‘ê·ṣāh ḇə·‘ê·ṣāh beeTzah eTzah eTzot hā‘êṣāh hā·‘ê·ṣāh haeTzah ka‘ăṣaṯ ka·‘ă·ṣaṯ kaaTzat la‘ăṣāṯî la‘ăṣāṯōw la·‘ă·ṣā·ṯî la·‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw laatzaTi laatzaTo lə‘êṣāh lə·‘ê·ṣāh leeTzah mê‘ăṣaṯ mê‘ăṣaṯ- mê‘ăṣāṯōw mê·‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw mê·‘ă·ṣaṯ mê·‘ă·ṣaṯ- meaTzat meatzaTo vaaTzat vaatzaTam vaatzaTo veeTzah wa‘ăṣaṯ wa‘ăṣāṯōw wa·‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw wa·‘ă·ṣaṯ wə‘êṣāh wə·‘ê·ṣāh yō‘ăṣê yō·‘ă·ṣê yoaTzei
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