Dictionary Article

Advice; adviser, especially on legal matters (such as a lawyer). In Bible times a counselor in a king’s court was like a U.S. cabinet member today. A counselor might at times have been in line to succeed the king. Ahithophel, counselor to David and Absalom, gave advice as sound as the “oracle of God” (2 Sm 16:23). The elders of Israel counseled King Rehoboam (1 Kgs 12:6), as did the friends with whom Rehoboam had grown up (vv 7-8), although his friends gave poor advice. The Bible mentions official counselors in Egypt (Is 19:11) and Babylon (Dn 3:2-3).

Show passage in OET: SA2 16:23

OET-RV SA2 16:23

23 In those days, Ahitofel’s advice was just as good as inquiring directly from God, so David in the past, and now Avshalom, accepted what he said.

OET-LV SA2 16:23

23 And_the _counsel _of ʼAḩītofel which he _counselled in _the_days the_those just_as he _enquires by_the _message _of the_ʼElohīm was_so all _of the _counsel _of ʼAḩītofel both to_Dāvid as _well _as to_ʼAⱱīshālōm.

Show passage in OET: KI1 12:6

OET-RV KI1 12:6

6 Then King Rehav’am consulted with the elders (who’d served his father Shelomoh while he was alive), asking them for advice on how to respond.

OET-LV KI1 12:6

6 And_ the_king Rəḩaⱱˊām _he _consulted with the_elders who they _had _been standing with the _presence _of Shəlomoh/(Solomon) his/its_father when_was_he alive to_say how are_you(pl) counselling to_bring _back DOM the_people the_this message.

Show passage in OET: KI1 12:7–8

OET-RV KI1 12:7

7 “If you want to serve these people well,” they replied, “answer them with kindness now then they’ll serve you well in the future.”

OET-RV KI1 12:8

8 However he decided to ignore that advice from the elders, and he consulted with the young men who were standing in front of him and that he’d grown up with,

OET-LV KI1 12:7

7 And to_him/it to_say if the_day you _will _be a _servant to_people the_this and_you_will _serve _them and_you_will _answer _them and_you _will _speak to_them words/messages kind and_they _will _be to/for_yourself(m) servants all _of the_days.

OET-LV KI1 12:8

8 And_he _abandoned DOM the _counsel _of the _elders which they_had _counselled _him and_he _consulted with the_youths who they _had _grown _up with_him/it who were_those _who_stood before_him.

Show passage in OET: ISA 19:11

OET-RV ISA 19:11

11 Tsoan city’s officials are foolish.
⇔ ≈ Par’oh’s (Pharaoh) wise counsellors are stupid.
⇔ How could you all tell Par’oh that you’re the son of wise people—
⇔ a son of ancient kings?

OET-LV ISA 19:11

11 Are_only fools the _officials _of Tsoˊan/(Zoan) the _wise_people_of the _counsellors _of Parˊoh are_counsel stupid how will _you(pl)_say to Parˊoh am_a _son _of wise_people I a _son _of kings _of ancient _time.

Show passage in OET: DAN 3:2–3

OET-RV DAN 3:2

2 Then King Nevukadnetsar sent for the various levels of governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the provincial officials, to all come to the dedication of the statue that he’d erected.

OET-RV DAN 3:3

3 So all those officials assembled in front of the statue that the king had set up, ready for the dedication.

OET-LV DAN 3:2

2 And_Nəⱱūkadneʦʦar Oh/the_king he _sent to_gather DOM_the_satraps the_prefects and_the_governors the_counsellors the_ministers the_judges the_magistrates and_all/each/any/every the _authorities _of the _provinces to_come to_the _dedication _of the _image which Nəⱱūkadneʦʦar Oh/the_king he _had _set _up.

OET-LV DAN 3:3

3 In_then were_gathered the_satraps the_prefects and_the_governors the_counsellors the_ministers the_judges the_magistrates and_all/each/any/every the _authorities _of the _provinces for_the _dedication _of the _image which Nəⱱūkadneʦʦar Oh/the_king he _had _set _up and (to)_before the_image which Nəⱱūkadneʦʦar he _had _set _up.

Jump to OET SA2 16:23 section.

Jump to OET KI1 12:6 section.

Jump to OET KI1 12:7–8 section.

Jump to OET ISA 19:11 section.

Jump to OET DAN 3:2–3 section.

A wise person seeks counsel when making plans: “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success” (Prv 15:22, NLT). One’s counselors may be one’s parents (1:8), older people (Ez 7:26), prophets (2 Chr 25:16), wise men (Jer 18:18), or friends (Prv 27:9, KJB). Some counselors are evil, giving deceitful advice (Prv 12:5).

Show passage in OET: PRO 15:22

OET-RV PRO 15:22

22 Plans go wrong where no one gets advice,
⇔ ^ but they get implemented where there’s many advisers.

OET-LV PRO 15:22

22 Plans they _go _wrong when_there_is_not counsel and_with_multitude _of counsellors it _is _established.

Show passage in OET: PRO 1:8

OET-RV PRO 1:8

8 My child, listen to your father’s instructions.
⇔ ≈ Don’t reject what your mother has told you to do,

OET-LV PRO 1:8

8 Listen _to my _son _of_my the _correction _of your _father _of_your and_do _not reject the _instruction _of your _mother _of_your.

Show passage in OET: EZE 7:26

OET-RV EZE 7:26

26 Disaster will follow disaster and there’ll be rumour after rumour. Then they’ll be wanting a vision from the prophet, but the priest will no longer teach God’s instructions, and advice from the elders will be useless.

OET-LV EZE 7:26

26 Disaster to disaster it _will _come and_report to report it _will _be and_they _will _seek a _vision from_a _prophet and_instruction it _will _be _lost from_the_priest and_counsel from_elders.

Show passage in OET: CH2 25:16

OET-RV CH2 25:16

16 While he was still speaking, the king snapped at him, “Who asked you to be my counsellor? Stop right this minute or they’ll strike you down!”
¶ So the prophet stopped talking, but then he added, “I know that God has decided to destroy you because you’ve done that, and because you didn’t listen to my advice.”

OET-LV CH2 25:16

16 And_he/it _was when_he_was _speaking to_him/it and_he/it _said to_him/it into_a_counsellor to/for_the _king have_we _made _you cease to/for_yourself(m) to/for_what will_people _strike _you _down and_ the_prophet _he _ceased and_he/it _said I _know if/because _that god he _has _planned to_destroy_you if/because you _have _done this and_not you _have _listened to_counsel _of_my.

Show passage in OET: JER 18:18

OET-RV JER 18:18

18 Then the people said,
⇔ Come on, let’s decide what to do about Yirmiyah (Jeremiah),
⇔ because we have plenty of instructions from the priests,
⇔ advice from the wise men,
⇔ and messages from the prophets.

OET-LV JER 18:18

18 And_they _said come and_let _us _plan on Yirmə^yāh/(Jeremiah) plans if/because not instruction it _will _be _lost from_the_priest and_counsel from_the_wise and_message from_the_prophet come and_let_us _attack _him with_tongue and_not let _us _pay _attention to all _of words/messages _of_his.

Show passage in OET: PRO 27:9

OET-RV PRO 27:9

9 Lotions and perfumes make a person cheery,
⇔ → but it’s so pleasant to be given good advice by a friend.

OET-LV PRO 27:9

9 Oil and_perfume it _makes _glad a _heart and_the _sweetness _of his/its_neighbour is_from_the_counsel _of a _person.

Show passage in OET: PRO 12:5

OET-RV PRO 12:5

5 The plans of godly people are to do justice,
⇔ ^ but wicked people lean towards deceit.

OET-LV PRO 12:5

5 The_plans _of righteous_people are_justice the_guidance(s)_of wicked_people are_deceit.

Jump to OET PRO 15:22 section.

Jump to OET PRO 1:8 section.

Jump to OET EZE 7:26 section.

Jump to OET CH2 25:16 section.

Jump to OET JER 18:18 section.

Jump to OET PRO 27:9 section.

Jump to OET PRO 12:5 section.

According to the Bible, God also counsels. He frustrates the counsel of the nations who oppose him (Ps 33:10), but his own counsel endures for many generations (v 11). No one may counsel the Lord (Is 40:13). His Messiah is called “Wonderful Counselor” (9:6).

Show passage in OET: PSA 33:10

OET-RV PSA 33:10

10 Yahweh frustrates the alliances of nations.
⇔ ≈ He overrules the plans of the peoples.

OET-LV PSA 33:10

10 YHWH he _frustrates the_counsel _of nations he _frustrates the_plans _of peoples.

Show passage in OET: PSA 33:11

OET-RV PSA 33:11

11 Yahweh’s plans stand forever—
⇔ ≈ the plans in his mind continue for all generations.

OET-LV PSA 33:11

11 The _counsel _of YHWH forever_perpetuity it _stands the _thoughts _of his/its_heart to_a _generation and_a _generation.

Show passage in OET: ISA 40:13

OET-RV ISA 40:13

13 Who has told Yahweh’s spirit what to do,
⇔ ≈ and has any person given him good advice?

OET-LV ISA 40:13

13 Who has _he _directed DOM the _spirit _of YHWH and_the _person _of his _counsel _of_his will_he _inform _him.

Show passage in OET: ISA 9:6

OET-RV ISA 9:6

6 because a child is born for us.
⇔ A son is given to us
⇔ ≈ and the government will be on his shoulder.
⇔ He’ll be called ‘Amazing adviser’,
⇔ ‘Greatest God’, ‘Forever father’, ‘Prince of peace’.

OET-LV ISA 9:5

5  If/because a _child he _will _be _born to/for_us a _son he _will _be _given to/for_us and_it _became the_dominion on shoulder _of_his and_he/it _called his/its_name a _wonder _of a _counsellor god mighty father _of perpetuity prince _of peace.

Jump to OET PSA 33:10 section.

Jump to OET PSA 33:11 section.

Jump to OET ISA 40:13 section.

Jump to OET ISA 9:6 section.

According to the NT, the Spirit counsels or comforts believers (Jn 14:16-17). Christ sends the Holy Spirit to his people (16:7), and the Spirit, also called the Spirit of truth, bears witness to Christ (15:26). The ascended Jesus Christ is seen as a counselor in God’s heavenly court (1 Jn 2:1, “advocate”).

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary