Lexical Summary moetsah: Going forth, outlet, exit, source Original Word: מוֹעֵצָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance counsel, device From ya'ats; a purpose -- counsel, device. see HEBREW ya'ats NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yaats Definition counsel, plan, principle, device NASB Translation counsels (3), devices (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מוֺעֵצָה] noun feminine counsel, plan, principle, device; — plural absolute מֹעֵצוֺת Proverbs 22:20 ("" דַּעַת) in good sense; in bad sense מוֺעֵצוֺת Jeremiah 7:24 ("" שְׁרִרוּת לִבָּם הָרָע); מֹעֲצוֺתֵיהֶם Hosea 11:6; Psalm 5:11; מוֺעֲצוֺתֵיהֶם Psalm 81:13; מֹעֲצֹתֵיהֶם Proverbs 1:31; מֹעֲצוֺתָם Micah 6:16. יַעֲקֹב, יַעֲקֹ֫בָה see below עקב. יַעֲקָן see עֲקָן. I. יער (√ of following; Arabic Topical Lexicon Semantic Scopeמוֹעֵצָה portrays the collective thought, strategy, or scheme that guides conduct. In its seven canonical appearances the term always concerns human plans that stand in contrast to the LORD’s righteous purpose. Whether translated “devices,” “plans,” or “counsels,” the idea is that of self-generated policy pursued apart from submission to God. Occurrence Overview 1. Psalm 5:10; Psalm 81:12 These texts span poetry, wisdom literature, and prophetic oracles, uniting the theme of autonomy that culminates in judgment. Sinful Counsel Versus Divine Counsel • Psalm 5:10 sets the tone: “Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own devices”. David prays that the wicked be overwhelmed by the very counsel they devised against him, underscoring the moral boomerang built into God’s justice (compare Psalm 7:15–16). Consequences Emphasized in Wisdom Literature Proverbs crystallizes the lesson for the individual: Historical Background in Prophetic Texts • Hosea 11:6 speaks to the Northern Kingdom on the eve of Assyrian exile: “A sword will flash in their cities… and devour them in their own plans.” Military collapse arrives through the very political plots meant to secure safety. Theological Motifs 1. Retributive symmetry—people harvest exactly what their counsel sows. Christological Trajectory The Gospels present Jesus Christ as the incarnate “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6) whose earthly ministry dismantles the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:20–25). At Calvary the rulers’ מוֹעֵצָה against Him (Acts 4:25–28, citing Psalm 2) becomes the divine plan of redemption, turning the motif of self-defeating counsel into the very instrument of salvation. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Preaching: Expose the futility of self-directed living; contrast it with the sufficiency of God’s revealed will. Summary מוֹעֵצָה warns that any strategy formulated apart from God reliably collapses upon its architects. The antidote is humble submission to the LORD’s counsel, ultimately revealed and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, in whom “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Forms and Transliterations בְּֽמוֹעֲצוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ בְּמ֖וֹעֵצֹ֣ת בְּמֹ֣עֵצ֔וֹת בְּמֹֽעֲצוֹתָ֑ם במועצותיהם׃ במועצת במעצות במעצותם וּֽמִמֹּעֲצֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣ם וממעצתיהם מִֽמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם ממעצותיהם ממעצותיהם׃ bə·mō·‘ă·ṣō·w·ṯām bə·mō·‘ê·ṣō·wṯ bə·mō·w·‘ă·ṣō·w·ṯê·hem bə·mō·w·‘ê·ṣōṯ bəmō‘ăṣōwṯām bəmō‘êṣōwṯ bemoatzoTam BemoatzoteiHem beMoeTzot bəmōw‘ăṣōwṯêhem bəmōw‘êṣōṯ mim·mō·‘ă·ṣō·w·ṯê·hem mimmō‘ăṣōwṯêhem mimoaTzoTeiHem ū·mim·mō·‘ă·ṣō·ṯê·hem ūmimmō‘ăṣōṯêhem umimoaTzoteiHemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 5:10 HEB: אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים יִפְּלוּ֮ מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם NAS: O God; By their own devices let them fall! KJV: let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out INT: God fall devices the multitude of their transgressions Psalm 81:12 Proverbs 1:31 Proverbs 22:20 Jeremiah 7:24 Hosea 11:6 Micah 6:16 7 Occurrences |