עֵצָה

From the study of Proverbs 21:30

Range of meaning

Advice given by a counsellor; a deliberate plan, policy or strategy; sometimes a conspiracy or scheme. It belongs especially to royal and military decision-making: 'counsel and might for war' (Isa 36:5; 2 Kgs 18:20); 'by wise guidance wage war' (Prov 20:18; 24:6). It is also used of YHWH's own plan (Prov 19:21; Isa 46:10; Ps 33:11).

Against the English

Modern 'counsel' suggests therapy, pastoral care, or a lawyer's advice. ʿĒṣâ is the plan agreed on in a war council or cabinet room: what we are going to do and how.

How it drifted

In modern English 'counsel' has moved toward therapy and personal advice. Older English 'counsel' meant purpose or design (as in 'the counsel of his will'), which was closer to the Hebrew.

Used elsewhere in the period

The best-known example is Ahithophel, whose counsel 'was as if one consulted the word of God' (2 Sam 16:23). YHWH overturned it: 'YHWH had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel' (2 Sam 17:14). Compare Isa 8:10 'take counsel together, but it shall come to nothing' and Ps 33:10-11.

From the study of Isaiah 30:1

Range of meaning

Advice, counsel, deliberation, plan or purpose. It is the work of royal advisers (2 Samuel 16:23; 17:14) and of wise men. In the prophets it is often Yahweh's own plan for history.

Against the English

KJV 'take counsel' sounds like asking for advice. Modern versions such as 'carry out a plan' (BSB) catch better that this is a policy put into action.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah sets human ʿēṣâ against Yahweh's: 5:19 (the scoffers say 'let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come'); 8:10 ('devise a plan, it will be thwarted'); 14:24–27 (the plan planned for the whole earth); 19:3, 11 (Egypt's own plans and counsellors turned foolish); 28:29 (Yahweh 'wonderful in counsel'); 29:15 (woe to those who hide counsel from Yahweh). The messianic king has a 'spirit of counsel' (11:2).

From the study of Isaiah 11:2

Range of meaning

Advice, counsel, plan, purpose, policy. The 'counsellor' (yoʿets) was a royal office (Ahithophel, 2 Sam 15:12; Isa 1:26; 3:3). God also has an ʿetsah, a purpose that stands (Isa 14:26; 46:10).

Against the English

Modern 'counsel' suggests advice-giving or the counselling professions. In Isaiah, ʿetsah is strategy and statecraft: deciding what to do, above all in a crisis or a war.

How it drifted

In modern use 'counsel' and 'counselor' mostly mean therapy and personal guidance, so readers may picture a gentle adviser rather than a ruler who forms and carries out sound policy.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 36:5 (= 2 Kgs 18:20) uses the identical pair. The Assyrian envoy taunts Hezekiah: 'you say you have counsel and might (ʿetsah ugevurah) for war, but they are only empty words'. Isaiah 9:6 calls the coming child 'Wonderful Counsellor (yoʿets), Mighty (gibbor) God', using the same two roots. Isaiah condemns Judah's leaders for making plans 'but not from me' (30:1) and hiding their plans from the LORD (29:15).