Greek word · G4823

συμβουλεύω

symbouleuō

to consult

Active: to give advice, counsel, recommend a course of action. Middle: to consult together, take counsel or plot (Matt 26:4; Acts 9:23). It belongs to deliberative speech, advice about what someone should do next.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

1. to advise, counsel , Lat. consulere alicui, with dative pers. et infinitive, to advise one to do a thing, (Herdotus Historicus), etc.

2. without the infinitive, ς. τινί τι (Herdotus Historicus); ς. τι to recommend a measure, (Herdotus Historicus), attic:—;Pass., τὰ συμβουλευόμενα the advice given , (Xenophon Historicus)

3. absolute to advise, give advice , (Sophocles Tragicus); ὁ συμβουλεύων or -εύσας, an adviser , Lat. auctor sententiae, (Aristotle Philosopher)

4. Mid. to consult with a person, i. e. ask his advice , Lat. consulere aliquem, with dative, (Herdotus Historicus), etc.: absolute to consult, deliberate , (Xenophon Historicus) (ML)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 3:18

Range of meaning

Active: to give advice, counsel, recommend a course of action. Middle: to consult together, take counsel or plot (Matt 26:4; Acts 9:23). It belongs to deliberative speech, advice about what someone should do next.

Against the English

'Counsel' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV) and 'advise' (NASB, NLT) are both accurate. Neither English word catches the irony: the one who has just called himself 'the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation' (3:14) chooses to advise rather than command.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for political and personal advice. In the LXX it is used of royal counsellors (e.g. 2 Sam 17:11; 1 Kgs 12:6–9, Rehoboam asking for advice). It appears only here in Revelation.

From the study of John 18:14

Range of meaning

Active: 'to advise, give counsel'. Middle: 'to consult together, plot' (Matt 26:4; Acts 9:23).

Against the English

'Advised' (BSB, WEB, ESV) and 'gave counsel' (KJV, YLT) are accurate. NLT's 'had told' loses the sense of formal advice given to a deliberating body.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Greek for counsel given in an assembly. In the Greek OT it is used, for example, of Ahithophel's and Hushai's counsel to Absalom (2 Sam 17). John 11:53 follows Caiaphas's advice with 'from that day they planned (ebouleusanto) to kill him'.

From the study of Matthew 26:4

Range of meaning

Active voice: to give advice to someone. Middle voice (the reflexive form used here): to consult together, deliberate jointly, reach a decision as a group. It is the language of councils and boards.

Against the English

KJV's bare 'consulted' sounds today like asking an expert for advice, and it loses the 'together'. YLT and WEB ('consulted together', 'took counsel together') are the most literal. BSB, ESV and NASB ('conspired', 'plotted together') read the meaning from what they decided, which is justified.

How it drifted

The English 'consult' narrowed over time to 'seek professional advice from'. The older sense of 'deliberate together' has faded.

Used elsewhere in the period

It is used of councils taking counsel in the LXX and in Josephus. Matthew has a pattern of hostile 'counsel' scenes: the Pharisees 'took counsel' (symboulion elabon) to destroy him (12:14); the chief priests and elders 'took counsel' against him at dawn (27:1); they 'took counsel' to bribe the guards (28:12). Psalm 31:13 (30:14 LXX) offers a close picture: 'when they gathered together against me, they took counsel (ebouleusanto) to take my life.'

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 26:4 συνεβουλεύσαντο they plotted together

    and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

    Here: The verb's form here is reflexive and plural: 'they deliberated among themselves.' It describes a group reaching a joint decision, and given what they decide, 'plotted' or 'conspired' is fair.

John · 1

  1. John 18:14 συμβουλεύσας having given counsel

    Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.

    Here: Caiaphas gave formal advice to a council. The past tense refers back to the meeting after Lazarus was raised, where his advice set the course to kill Jesus (11:53).

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 9:23 συνεβουλεύσαντο plotted together

    After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 3:18 συμβουλεύω I counsel

    I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

    Here: The present tense means 'my advice to you is…'. It is the language of a counsellor. The risen Christ, who could simply order, speaks to the self-sufficient church as an adviser, which is itself a pointed irony.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.