עֵצָה (e.tsah)
e.tsah
counsel
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 79 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun etzah denotes counsel, advice, or a formed purpose. Derived from the verb yatsa, meaning to take counsel, it refers to the result of deliberation: a plan or strategy that has been decided upon. It appears frequently in Proverbs and Isaiah, describing both human wisdom and divine intent.
In human contexts, etzah is the practical advice sought by leaders, as seen when King Rehoboam consulted his advisors on how to rule (1 Kings 12:6). It can also signify prudence or good judgment, qualities attributed to wise individuals who navigate life with foresight. Conversely, it describes schemes that lead to failure, such as the futile plans of those who oppose God’s will.
Theologically, etzah carries significant weight when applied to God. In Isaiah 46:10, God declares His purpose (etzah) stands firm, highlighting His sovereign control over history. This usage distinguishes divine counsel from human opinion; it is not merely a suggestion but an irrevocable decree that will come to pass.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word etzah points to a plan formed after careful thought, whether from human advisors or divine decree. In our daily lives, we often seek guidance from those with experience, hoping their insight will steer us away from trouble. Yet the Bible reminds us that human counsel is limited and can sometimes lead us astray if it ignores God’s perspective.
What brings true peace is trusting in God’s ultimate purpose. Unlike human schemes that may fail, His counsel stands firm because He holds history in His hands. When we feel uncertain about our next steps, we can rest in the confidence that His plans for us are good and secure, even when the path ahead seems unclear.
This assurance invites us to pray for wisdom rather than relying solely on our own understanding. It encourages us to seek God’s direction first, knowing that His guidance is reliable and enduring. In every season of life, we can find comfort in the fact that His purpose will not be thwarted by human error or opposition.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 79 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- counsel13×
- [the] counsel of12×
- [the] plan of7×
- and/ [the] counsel of5×
- a plan5×
- counsel/ his3×
- according to/ [the] counsel of3×
- purpose/ my2×
- more than/ [the] counsel of2×
- counsel/ my2×
- and/ counsel2×
- with/ counsel/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲצַ֥ת7×
- עֵצָה֙4×
- עֵצָ֥ה4×
- עֲצַת\־4×
- עֵצָ֖ה3×
- כַּ/עֲצַ֤ת3×
- וַ/עֲצַ֥ת3×
- עֵצָ֔ה2×
- עֵצָ֑ה2×
- עֵ֭צָה2×
- עֲצָתִֽ/י\׃2×
- עֲצָתִ֑/י2×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 15:31
Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
David’s prayer shows that even trusted human counsel can be turned into foolishness by God to protect His anointed.
-
II Samuel 17:14
Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
This verse highlights that God sovereignly overrides the best human strategies to fulfill His own purposes.
-
Job 12:13
“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
It affirms that true wisdom and understanding reside exclusively with God, distinguishing His counsel from human opinion.