Original Word: עֵצָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: `etsah
Pronunciation: ay-tsaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-tsaw')
KJV: advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose
NASB: counsel, advice, plan, purpose, consultation, plans, counsels
Word Origin: [from H3289 (יָעַץ - counselors)]

1. advice
2. (by implication) plan
3. (also) prudence

advice, advisement, counselor, purpose

From ya'ats; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence -- advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.

see HEBREW ya'ats

Word Origin
from yaats
Definition
counsel, advice
NASB Translation
advice (11), consultation (2), counsel (52), counselor* (1), counselors* (1), counsels (1), designs (1), plan (8), plans (2), purpose (6), scheme (1), schemes (1), strategy (1).

עֵצָה noun feminine counsel, advice (= (יְ)עֵצָה) — ׳ע Judges 20:7 28t.; construct עֲצַת Isaiah 5:19 33t.; suffix עֲצָתִי Proverbs 1:25 5t. (+ Isaiah 46:11 Qr; Kt עצתו better); עֲצָֽתְךָ Psalm 20:5; Psalm 73:24; עֲצָתוֺ Hosea 10:6 7t. (including Isaiah 46:10 Kt see supr); עֲצָתָם Jeremiah 18:23 4t.; plural עֵצוֺת Deuteronomy 32:28 2t.; עֲצָתָ֑יִךְ Isaiah 47:13; — counsel, advice 2 Samuel 15:31,34; 2 Samuel 16:23 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 17:14 (3 t. in verse); 2 Samuel 17:23; 1 Kings 12:8,13,14 2Chron 10:8; 10:13; 10:14, 2 Chron 22:5; 25:16; Ezra 10:3 (where read אֲדֹנִי ׳ע Reuss Ry), Ezra 10:8; Job 29:21; political consultation Isaiah 47:13; as accusative of congnate meaning with verb 2 Samuel 17:7; 1 Kings 1:12; Isaiah 8:10; Ezekiel 11:2 (עצתרָֿע, "" אָוֶן); with הָב֫וּ give counsel Judges 20:7; 2 Samuel 16:20; ׳חֵבִיא ע Isaiah 16:3; ׳עשׂה ע Isaiah 30:1; אָשִׁית עֵצוֺת בְּנַפְשִׁי Psalm 13:3; = design, purpose Ezra 4:5; Nehemiah 4:9; 1 Chronicles 12:20 (Baer), Psalm 14:6; Psalm 20:5; Jeremiah 18:23 (followed by עַל = against), Jeremiah 49:30 ("" מַחֲשָׁבָה); עֲצַתגּֿוֺיִם Psalm 33:10; suitable counsel for war (= Generalship) 2 Kings 18:20 = Isaiah 36:5 (compare Proverbs 20:18 below); also עֲצַת שָׁלוֺם Zechariah 6:13 counsel of peace; practical wisdom, sagacity Isaiah 19:3, compare Isaiah 19:11, Jeremiah 19:7; Deuteronomy 32:28 ("" תְּבוּנָה), Hosea 10:6. Especially in Wisdom Literature and prophets; counsel = good counsle, wisdom Job 38:2; Job 42:3; Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 20:5 (its seat בְּלֶבאִֿישׁ); "" תּוּשִׁיָּה Proverbs 8:14; Isaiah 28:29 (of ׳י); "" חָכְמָה Jeremiah 49:7; "" חָכְמָה and תְּבוּנָה Job 12:13; Proverbs 21:30; "" מוּסָר Proverbs 19:20; "" תַּחְבֻּלוֺת Proverbs 20:18 (compare Isaiah 36:5 above); נִפְתָּלִים ׳ע Job 5:13; וּגְבוּרָה ׳רוּחַ ע Isaiah 11:2 ("" חָכְמָה וּבָינָה ׳ר); hearty counsel נֶפֶשׁ ׳ע Proverbs 27:9; counsel of wisdom, when wisdom is personified Proverbs 1:25,30 ("" תּוֺכַחַת); in bad sense רשׁעים ׳ע Job 10:3; Job 21:16; Job 22:18; Psalm 1:1, compare Job 18:7; Psalm 106:43; Isaiah 29:15; of plan of ׳י; ׳י ׳ע Psalm 33:11; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 19:17; Isaiah 14:26 (הַיִעוּצָה ׳הע), Isaiah 25:1; Isaiah 46:10,11; קדושׁ ישׂראל ׳ע Isaiah 5:19; also Micah 4:12; Jeremiah 32:19 (גְּדֹל הָעֵצָה), Jeremiah 49:20; Jeremiah 50:45; Psalm 106:13; עֶלְיוֺן ׳ע Psalm 107:11; instruction, guiding wisdom of ׳י Psalm 73:24; אִישׁעֲֿצָתוֺ i.e. counsellor of ׳י Isaiah 40:13; in figure אַנְשֵׁי עֲצָתִי Psalm 119:24 = my counsellors, said of testimonies of God; = prophecy, מלאכיו ׳ע Isaiah 44:26 ("" דְּבַר עַבְדּוֺ); מִזְּקֵנִים ׳תִּאֹבַד ע Ezekiel 7:26 (compare 1 Kings 12:8; "" חָזוֺן, תּוֺרָה), מֵחָכָם Jeremiah 18:18 ("" דָּבָר, תּוֺרָה).

Range of Usage

עֵצָה appears roughly eighty-nine times across the Old Testament and spans the ideas of counsel, advice, plan, purpose, deliberation, strategy, and design. The contexts fall broadly into three spheres: (1) the steadfast counsel of God, (2) the variable counsel of human beings, and (3) the deceptive counsel of the wicked and of idols. Each occurrence underscores that every plan is ultimately judged by its alignment with the revealed will of the LORD.

Divine Counsel: Immutable and Sovereign

Psalm 33:11 declares, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations”. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that God’s counsel is:

• Eternal – Isaiah 46:10 “My counsel will stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.”
• Wise and wondrous – Isaiah 28:29 “This also comes from the LORD of Hosts—He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”
• Redemptive – Proverbs 19:21 “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.”
• Protective for His covenant people – Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.”

Old Testament saints found security by seeking and submitting to this counsel. Prophets trusted it when announcing both judgment and salvation (Jeremiah 49:20; Micah 4:12). Kings were judged by whether they inquired of it (1 Kings 22:5) or despised it (2 Chronicles 25:16).

Human Counsel: Wise, Limited, and Accountable

Positive examples:
• Jethro to Moses (Exodus 18:19-24). Moses accepted the counsel, implemented shared leadership, and the nation prospered.
• Jonathan to David (1 Samuel 19:1-7). Wise intercession preserved David’s life.
• Esther and Mordecai (Esther 4:13-16). Strategic counsel delivered the Jews from annihilation.

These passages commend humble receptivity to sound advice, rigorous evaluation against God’s word, and readiness to act.

Negative examples:
• Rehoboam rejected the elders’ counsel (1 Kings 12:6-15), splitting the kingdom.
• Ahaziah “walked in the counsel of the house of Ahab” (2 Chronicles 22:3) and died under judgment.

Human counsel, even when well-intentioned, remains fallible and must be subordinated to Scripture.

Wicked Counsel: Deceptive and Self-Destructive

Psalm 1:1 warns against “the counsel of the wicked.” Isaiah 19:13 portrays Egypt’s princes whose “counsel has become senseless.” Rebellious advice often involves:

• Trusting in military alliances instead of the LORD (Isaiah 30:1-2).
• Encouraging idolatry (Jeremiah 18:18).
• Plotting violence or deceit (Psalm 64:2; Micah 6:16).

Such counsel ultimately collapses because it opposes God’s sovereign plan (Job 5:13).

Counsel in Israel’s National Story

1. Formation: Moses relied on Jethro’s counsel, illustrating how godly advice shapes leadership structures.
2. Monarchy: The contrast between Ahithophel and Hushai (2 Samuel 15:31; 17:14) shows God overturning brilliant but ungodly strategy.
3. Exile and Restoration: Prophets announced that God’s counsel determined both exile (Jeremiah 25:9) and return (Isaiah 44:26-28).

Throughout, the nation thrived when it aligned with divine counsel and faltered when it pursued its own.

Counsel in Wisdom Literature

Proverbs elevates counsel to a staple of righteous living:

• Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.”
• Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.”
• Proverbs 20:18 “Set plans by consultation; wage war with sound guidance.”

Job wrestles with the distinction between man’s limited counsel and God’s omniscient counsel (Job 12:13; 38:2).

Psalms frames the blessed life around either receiving or rejecting counsel (Psalms 1; 16:7; 73:24).

Prophetic Uses

Prophets regularly anchor pronouncements of judgment or salvation in the certainty of God’s counsel:

• God’s counsel against Edom – Jeremiah 49:20.
• Counsel concerning Babylon – Jeremiah 50:45.
• Counsel ensuring the coming Messiah – Isaiah 11:2; 25:1.

These prophecies assure believers that historical events unfold under God’s intentional design.

Christological Implications

Isaiah 9:6 merges the concept into the messianic title “Wonderful Counselor.” Jesus Christ embodies and discloses the perfect counsel of God (Colossians 2:3). His teaching supersedes all human wisdom (Matthew 7:24-29) and fulfills the divine plan (Acts 2:23).

Ministry Application

1. Preaching and Teaching: Ministers must continually proclaim God’s counsel in its full breadth (Acts 20:27), resisting cultural or pragmatic dilution.
2. Pastoral Care: Biblical counseling aims to realign hearts with the LORD’s purposes, echoing Psalm 32:8.
3. Decision-Making: Congregations are encouraged to seek multiple godly voices while testing each plan against Scripture, prayer, and the Spirit’s witness.
4. Discipleship: Training believers to discern between wise and wicked counsel fortifies them against deception and fosters maturity.

Key Texts for Further Study

Genesis 41:37; Exodus 18:19-24; Numbers 31:16; Deuteronomy 32:28; 2 Samuel 16:23; 1 Kings 12:8; 2 Chronicles 25:16; Ezra 4:5; Nehemiah 4:15; Esther 4:14; Job 12:13; Psalm 1:1; Psalm 33:11; Psalm 73:24; Proverbs 19:21; Proverbs 20:18; Isaiah 28:29; Isaiah 30:1-2; Jeremiah 49:20; Micah 4:12.

בְּעֵצָ֣ה בְעֵצָ֗ה בַּעֲצַ֣ת בַּעֲצַ֪ת בַּעֲצָתְךָ֥ בַּעֲצָתָם֮ בַעֲצָתָ֑ם בעצה בעצת בעצתך בעצתם הָֽעֵצָ֔ה הָעֵצָ֛ה הָעֵצָ֥ה העצה וְעֵצָ֖ה וְעֵצָה֙ וַעֲצַ֖ת וַעֲצַ֣ת וַעֲצַ֥ת וַעֲצָת֖וֹ ועצה ועצת ועצתו יֹעֲצֵ֣י יעצי כַּעֲצַ֤ת כעצת לְעֵצָ֣ה לַעֲצָתִ֑י לַעֲצָתִֽי׃ לַעֲצָתֽוֹ׃ לעצה לעצתו׃ לעצתי לעצתי׃ מֵֽעֲצַת־ מֵעֲצַ֖ת מֵעֲצָתֽוֹ׃ מעצת מעצת־ מעצתו׃ עֲצַ֖ת עֲצַ֛ת עֲצַ֣ת עֲצַ֤ת עֲצַ֥ת עֲצַ֨ת עֲצַת֙ עֲצַת־ עֲצָת֑וֹ עֲצָת֖וֹ עֲצָתְךָ֥ עֲצָתִ֑י עֲצָתִ֣י עֲצָתִֽי׃ עֲצָתָ֑יִךְ עֲצָתָ֑ם עֲצָתָ֤ם עֲצָתֽוֹ׃ עֲצָתוֹ֒ עֵ֝צָ֗ה עֵ֭צָה עֵצ֖וֹת עֵצ֡וֹת עֵצ֥וֹת עֵצָ֑ה עֵצָ֔ה עֵצָ֖ה עֵצָ֗ה עֵצָ֣ה עֵצָ֥ה עֵצָה֙ עצה עצות עצת עצת־ עצתו עצתו׃ עצתי עצתי׃ עצתיך עצתך עצתם ‘ă·ṣā·ṯā·yiḵ ‘ă·ṣā·ṯām ‘ă·ṣā·ṯə·ḵā ‘ă·ṣā·ṯî ‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw ‘ă·ṣaṯ ‘ă·ṣaṯ- ‘ăṣaṯ ‘ăṣaṯ- ‘ăṣāṯām ‘ăṣāṯāyiḵ ‘ăṣāṯəḵā ‘ăṣāṯî ‘ăṣāṯōw ‘ê·ṣāh ‘ê·ṣō·wṯ ‘êṣāh ‘êṣōwṯ aTzat atzaTam atzaTayich atzateCha atzaTi atzaTo ba‘ăṣaṯ ba‘ăṣāṯām ḇa‘ăṣāṯām ba‘ăṣāṯəḵā ba·‘ă·ṣā·ṯām ḇa·‘ă·ṣā·ṯām ba·‘ă·ṣā·ṯə·ḵā ba·‘ă·ṣaṯ baaTzat baatzaTam baatzateCha bə‘êṣāh ḇə‘êṣāh bə·‘ê·ṣāh ḇə·‘ê·ṣāh beeTzah eTzah eTzot hā‘êṣāh hā·‘ê·ṣāh haeTzah ka‘ăṣaṯ ka·‘ă·ṣaṯ kaaTzat la‘ăṣāṯî la‘ăṣāṯōw la·‘ă·ṣā·ṯî la·‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw laatzaTi laatzaTo lə‘êṣāh lə·‘ê·ṣāh leeTzah mê‘ăṣaṯ mê‘ăṣaṯ- mê‘ăṣāṯōw mê·‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw mê·‘ă·ṣaṯ mê·‘ă·ṣaṯ- meaTzat meatzaTo vaaTzat vaatzaTam vaatzaTo veeTzah wa‘ăṣaṯ wa‘ăṣāṯōw wa·‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw wa·‘ă·ṣaṯ wə‘êṣāh wə·‘ê·ṣāh yō‘ăṣê yō·‘ă·ṣê yoaTzeiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts