Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "consult" refers to seeking advice, guidance, or counsel from others, including God, prophets, or wise individuals. The act of consulting is often portrayed in Scripture as a means of discerning God's will, making decisions, or understanding complex situations. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on the importance and implications of consulting.
Old Testament Instances1.
Consulting God: The Israelites frequently sought God's guidance through consultation. In
1 Samuel 23:2, David inquired of the Lord, asking, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" The Lord responded, providing David with direction. This highlights the practice of seeking divine counsel before making significant decisions.
2.
Consulting Prophets: Prophets served as intermediaries between God and His people. In
1 Kings 22:5, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of the LORD." This demonstrates the reliance on prophetic consultation to discern God's will.
3.
Consulting Wise Counselors: The wisdom literature, particularly the Book of Proverbs, emphasizes the value of seeking wise counsel.
Proverbs 15:22 states, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." This underscores the importance of consulting knowledgeable and godly individuals.
New Testament Insights1.
Consulting Among Believers: The early church practiced consultation among its members to resolve disputes and make decisions. In
Acts 15:6, the apostles and elders gathered to consider the matter of Gentile believers and the law, illustrating the communal aspect of seeking guidance.
2.
Consulting the Holy Spirit: The New Testament emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers. In
John 16:13, Jesus promises, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth." This indicates the importance of consulting the Holy Spirit for direction and understanding.
Warnings Against Improper Consultation1.
Consulting False Prophets and Diviners: The Bible warns against seeking guidance from false prophets or engaging in divination. In
Deuteronomy 18:10-12, God explicitly forbids practices such as divination and consulting the dead, as these are detestable to Him.
2.
Consulting in Rebellion: Consulting with the wrong motives or in rebellion against God is condemned. In
Isaiah 30:1, the Lord rebukes those who "carry out a plan, but not Mine, and make an alliance, but not of My Spirit," highlighting the danger of seeking counsel contrary to God's will.
Theological ImplicationsConsultation in the biblical sense is deeply rooted in the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and the pursuit of His wisdom. It reflects a dependence on divine guidance and the recognition of human limitations. The act of consulting, whether through prayer, Scripture, or godly counsel, is an expression of faith and humility, seeking alignment with God's purposes and plans.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To seek the opinion or advice of another; to take counsel; to deliberate together; to confer.
2. (v. t.) To ask advice of; to seek the opinion of; to apply to for information or instruction; to refer to; as, to consult a physician; to consult a dictionary.
3. (v. t.) To have reference to, in judging or acting; to have regard to; to consider; as, to consult one's wishes.
4. (v. t.) To deliberate upon; to take for.
5. (v. t.) To bring about by counsel or contrivance; to devise; to contrive.
6. (n.) The act of consulting or deliberating; consultation; also, the result of consultation; determination; decision.
7. (n.) A council; a meeting for consultation.
8. (n.) Agreement; concert
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CONSULTkon-sult' (sha'al, malakh, ya`ats (Aramaic) ye`aT; sumbouleuomai):
(1) "To ask," "inquire," "seek advice." Ezekiel speaks of the king of Babylonian consulting the teraphim (Ezekiel 21:21) and the Israelites were admonished to have noting to do with "a consulter with a familiar spirit" (Deuteronomy 18:11).
SeeASTROLOGY;COMMUNION WITH DEMONS; DIVINATION.
(2) "To take counsel," "devise," "plan." The various officials of Babylon "consulted together to establish a royal statute" (Daniel 6:7; compareMatthew 26:4).
(3) "To deliberate with one's self," "make up one's mind." Nehemiah consulted with himself as to what might be done for Jerusalem (Nehemiah 5:7). Jesus spoke of a king "consulting" (the King James Version) whether he be able to wage a war (Luke 14:31; the Revised Version (British and American) "take counsel").
A. W. Fortune
Greek
4323. prosanatithemi -- to lay on besides, hence to undertake...... besides (mid.). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prosanatithemi Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-an-at-ith'-ay-mee) Short Definition: I
consult with Definition: I
...4823. sumbouleuo -- to take counsel together, advise
... sumbouleuo Phonetic Spelling: (soom-bool-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I give advice
Definition: I give advice, exhort; mid: I take counsel together,consult....
4820. sumballo -- to throw together, hence to discuss, consider...
... properly: I throw together, hence: I ponder, come up with, encounter, with or without
hostile intent; I dispute with; mid: I confer,consult with, contribute....
1011. bouleuo -- to take counsel, deliberate
... resolved (1).consult, take counsel, determine, purpose. From boule; to advise,
ie (reflexively) deliberate, or (by implication) resolve...
1793. entugchano -- to chance upon, by impl. confer with, by ext....
... intensifies 5177 , "to obtain by hitting the mark") -- properly, "light upon (meet
with), obtain" (); "to go and meet a person to converse,consult," ie to...
Strong's Hebrew
3289. yaats -- to advise, counsel... root Definition to advise, counsel NASB Word Usage advise (1), advisers (1), conspire
(1), conspired (1),
consult (2), consulted (8), counsel (4), counsel do
...7592. shaal -- to ask, inquire
... NASB Word Usage ask (45), asked (41), asking (5), asks (5), beg (1), begged (1),
begs (1), borrow (1), borrowed (1), borrows (1),consult (2), consulting (1...
3272. y'at, -- counselor
... counselor,consult together (Aramaic) corresponding to ya'ats; to counsel; reflexively,
toconsult -- counsellor,consult together. see HEBREW ya'ats....
4427. malak -- to be or become king or queen, to reign
... 4426, 4427. malak. 4427a . to be or become king or queen, to reign.
Transliteration: malak Phonetic Spelling: (maw-lak') Short Definition:consult....
1875. darash -- to resort to, seek
... root Definition to resort to, seek NASB Word Usage ask (1), avenge (1), calls (1),
care (1), cares (3), comes the reckoning (1),consult (2), consulted by them...
5779. uts -- to counsel, plan
... take advice counsel together. A primitive root; toconsult -- take advice ((counsel)
together). 5778, 5779. uts. 5780 . Strong's Numbers.
3245. yasad -- to establish, found, fix
... A primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found;
reflexively, to sit down together, ie Settle,consult -- appoint, take counsel...
Library
He, Being Sick in Body, and Having Sent Some of his Servants to...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter XLV. He, being sick
in body, and having sent some of his servants toconsult an?...
What virtues Ought to Exist in Him whom weConsult. ...
... Book II. Chapter XVII. What virtues ought to exist in him whom weconsult.?
What virtues ought to exist in him whom weconsult....
As Ambrose was Occupied with Business and Study, Augustin could...
... Book VI. Chapter III."As Ambrose Was Occupied with Business and Study, Augustin
Could SeldomConsult Him Concerning the Holy Scriptures....
Introductory Notice to Dionysius, Bishop of Rome.
... [2336] For a complete view of the whole matter, and for the originals of both these
great prelates, the student will not fail toconsult Routh....
God Everywhere Answers those who Take Counsel of Him.
... Everywhere, O Truth, dost Thou direct all whoconsult Thee, and dost at
once answer all, though theyconsult Thee on divers things....
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 21,"Go, Sell that Thou Hast...
... If thou shouldest be in want, no one will give to thee. Live not for the time present
only;consult for the future." On the other hand is luxuriousness....
The Oracles.
... When she gave her answers to those who came toconsult the oracle, she sat upon
a sort of three-legged stool, which was called the sacred tripod....
The Saybrook Platform
... to be frequent friendly consultations between their "Officers." There are to be
"Occasional Meetings of Ministers" of several churches toconsult and advise...
The Progress of Prelacy.
... Whilst this functionary was nominated by the presbyters, he might be also set aside
by them, so that he felt it necessary toconsult their wishes and to use...
Epistle xvii. To Felix, Bishop of Messana.
... For, following the examples of thy predecessors, thou hast thought it right toconsult
the Apostolic See, in which thou hast been brought up and educated, on...
Thesaurus
Consult (27 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To ask advice of; to seek the opinion of; to apply to for information or
instruction; to refer to; as, to
consult a physician; to
consult a dictionary.
...Wizards (10 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:19 When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and
with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn'ta peopleconsult with...
Mutter (6 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:19 When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and
with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn'ta peopleconsult with...
Chirp (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:19 When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and
with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn'ta peopleconsult with...
Shouldn't (20 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:19 When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and
with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn't a peopleconsult with...
Familiar (35 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:19 When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and
with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn'ta peopleconsult with...
Confer (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To contribute; to conduce. 4. (vi) To have discourse; toconsult; to compare
views; to deliberate. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CONFER; CONFERENCE....
Ahikam (20 Occurrences)
... Brother of support = helper, one of the five whom Josiah sent toconsult the prophetess
Huldah in connection with the discovery of the book of the law (2 Kings...
Advise (10 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To consider; to deliberate. 4. (vt) To take counsel; toconsult; -- followed
by with; as, to advise with friends. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia....
Ahaziah (34 Occurrences)
... His messengers, sent toconsult the god of Ekron regarding his recovery from the
effects of a fall from the roof-gallery of his palace, were met on the way by...
Resources
Should a Christian consult horoscopes? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are spirit guides? Should Christians consult spirit guides? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Day of the Dead? | GotQuestions.orgConsult: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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