συμβουλεύω

I give advice

Definition

The verb συμβουλεύω means 'to give advice' or 'to counsel.' In its active voice, it describes the act of offering guidance or exhortation, as seen in Revelation 3:18 where Christ counsels the Laodicean church. In the middle voice, it shifts meaning to 'take counsel together' or 'consult,' indicating a mutual deliberation, which is its primary use in the New Testament. This middle sense is prominent in passages describing plots, such as the chief priests and elders conspiring against Jesus (Matthew 26:4) or the Jews planning to kill Paul (Acts 9:23).

Biblical Usage

This word appears five times in the New Testament, exclusively in narrative contexts involving plots or strategic advice. It is used in the Gospels (Matthew, John) and Acts to describe hostile consultations by religious or political groups. For example, in John 11:53 and 18:14, the Sanhedrin conspires to put Jesus to death. The sole non-conspiratorial use is in Revelation 3:18, where it conveys Christ's loving admonition. The pattern shows it often relates to secretive or decisive group planning.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition σύν (syn), meaning 'with' or 'together,' and the verb βουλεύω (bouleuō), meaning 'to deliberate' or 'to plan.' The compound emphasizes collective action. Cognates include βουλή (boulē, 'counsel' or 'purpose') and συμβούλιον (symboulion, 'council'). The meaning developed from general advising to specifically joint consultation, reflecting its middle voice usage.

Semantic Range

This word highlights the human dimension of plotting against God's purposes, contrasting human conspiracy with divine providence. In the crucifixion accounts (e.g., Matthew 26:4), it underscores the irony that human schemes fulfill God's redemptive plan. In Revelation 3:18, it portrays Christ as the divine counselor offering true wisdom, countering worldly advice. Understanding its dual voice enriches seeing how human deliberations interact with God's sovereign will.

In the Greco-Roman world, seeking counsel was a valued practice in political, military, and personal affairs. The middle voice's emphasis on mutual consultation reflects a cultural norm of collective decision-making, often in official councils like the Sanhedrin. The negative usage in the NT, however, typically depicts these consultations as secretive and malicious, differing from a neutral modern understanding of 'advice' and aligning more with 'conspiracy' in a Jewish-Roman context of persecution.

βουλεύω (bouleuō, G1011) — focuses on individual deliberation or planning. παραινέω (paraineō, G3867) — means to exhort or advise, often with a moral urging. συντίθημι (syntithēmi, G4934) — means to agree or covenant together, emphasizing the outcome of a pact.

Word Details

Scripture References