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συμβούλιον

symboúlion

G4824 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A deliberative consultation or formal meeting for decision-making, often with the sense of 'a session of counsel.' In specific contexts, refers to a governing or advisory council, or an assembly convened for consultation and deliberation. Can denote the act of consulting, the advice offered, or the body that gives counsel.

Semantic Range

consultation, act of deliberation, advice; a body of advisors or council; a formal meeting for counsel or decision-making; an official governing or judicial assembly; a resolution or plan formulated by such a group

Root / Etymology

From συμβουλεύω (to advise, to deliberate together), derived from σύν (with, together) and βούλομαι (to will, to plan, to wish). συμβούλιον is a neuter noun form denoting the institution or instance of joint deliberation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In general Greek usage, συμβούλιον refers both to the act of taking counsel together and to the council or assembly where such deliberation takes place. The term occurs in classical Greek in both public and private contexts, signifying a group convened to discuss and decide matters. In Hellenistic and Roman periods—including the Septuagint and the New Testament—the term is frequently used for official gatherings such as provincial councils, local governing bodies, or deliberative assemblies, often with legal or administrative authority. It can also refer more abstractly to a plan or purpose decided upon by such a body (cf. 'counsel' as advice or decision). In the New Testament, συμβούλιον may refer to councils of Judean or other leadership that convened for judicial or administrative purposes. English translations sometimes render it as 'council' or 'consultation,' but these may not always convey the nuance of a formal or semi-formal governing assembly. It should be distinguished from βουλή (boulē), which often denotes a more official council, such as a city senate.

Translation Consistency

primary "counsel" 7 occurrences

Counsel best covers the primary semantic range here—advice/consultation, the act of deliberation, and by extension a group convened to give advice (a council). It’s a natural, widely used English noun that fits the typical uses of συμβούλιον and lets a single consistent word render both ‘advice/plan’ and ‘deliberative meeting’ senses; rarer senses can be handled in context-specific notes.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"council" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a presumed derivative of σύμβουλος; advisement; specially, a deliberative body, i.e. the provincial assessors or lay-court:--consultation, counsel, council.

Root Family

συμβουλ- (symbouleúō) — to deliberate together, to consult, to counsel jointly

Root συμβουλ- to advise, to deliberate, to resolve, to consult together
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G4823 συμβουλεύω I deliberate together

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4824-01 συμβούλιον sumboulion N ACC N SG counsel deliberative council deliberative counsel 7
G4824-02 συμβουλίου sumbouliou N GEN N SG council of a deliberative council council 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4824-01 Matthew 12:14 συμβούλιον sumboulion N ACC N SG counsel deliberative council deliberative counsel
G4824-01 Matthew 22:15 συμβούλιον sumboulion N ACC N SG counsel deliberative council deliberative counsel
G4824-01 Matthew 27:1 συμβούλιον sumboulion N ACC N SG counsel deliberative council deliberative counsel
G4824-01 Matthew 27:7 συμβούλιον sumboulion N ACC N SG counsel deliberative council deliberative counsel
G4824-01 Matthew 28:12 συμβούλιόν sumboulion N ACC N SG counsel deliberative council deliberative counsel
G4824-01 Mark 3:6 συμβούλιον sumboulion N ACC N SG counsel deliberative council deliberative counsel
G4824-01 Mark 15:1 συμβούλιον sumboulion N ACC N SG consultation deliberative council deliberative counsel
G4824-02 Acts 25:12 συμβουλίου sumbouliou N GEN N SG council of a deliberative council council
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