4824. sumboulion

Lexical Summary

sumboulion: Council, counsel, plan, advice

Original Word: συμβούλιον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: sumboulion
Pronunciation: soom-BOO-lee-on
Phonetic Spelling: (soom-boo'-lee-on)
KJV: consultation, counsel, council
NASB: together, conspiring, consultation, council, plotted together
Word Origin: [neuter of a presumed derivative of G4825 (σύμβουλος - counselor)]

1. advisement
2. (specially) a deliberative body, i.e. the provincial assessors or lay-court

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

consultation, counsel, council.

Neuter of a presumed derivative of sumboulos; advisement; specially, a deliberative body, i.e. The provincial assessors or lay-court -- consultation, counsel, council.

see GREEK sumboulos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sumboulos
Definition
counsel, by impl. a council
NASB Translation
conferred* (2), conspired* (1), conspiring (1), consultation (1), consulted* (1), council (1), plotted together (1), together (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4824: συμβούλιον

συμβούλιον, συμβουλίου, τό (σύμβουλος);

1. counsel, which is given, taken, entered upon (PIut. Romul. 14): λαμβάνω (on this phrase see λαμβάνω, I. 6), Matthew 12:14; Matthew 22:15; Matthew 27:1, 7; Matthew 28:12; ποιῶ, to consult, deliberate, Mark 3:6 (Tr text WH text συμβούλιον ἐδίδουν); Mark 15:1 (T WH marginal reading συμβούλιον ἑτοιμασαντες; cf. Weiss ad loc.).

2. a council, i. e. an assembly of counsellors or persons in consultation (Plutarch, Luc. 26): Acts 25:12 (the governors and procurator's of provinces had a board of assessors or advisers with whom they took counsel before rendering judgment; see Cicero, ad fam. 8, 8; Verr. 2, 13; Sueton. vit. Tiber. 33; Lampridius, vit. Alex. Sever c. 46; cf. Josephus, b. j. 2, 16, 1).

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Theological Emphasis

The term denotes a deliberate conference or plan reached after discussion. In the New Testament it is never an impromptu thought; it is a studied resolution made by people in authority. The word’s settings reveal that such counsel may be either malevolent, when opposed to the purposes of God, or merely administrative, when used for civil order. Scripture thereby contrasts the unstable designs of human leaders with the unfailing counsel of the Lord (Psalm 33:10–11; Proverbs 19:21).

Occurrences in the Gospel Narratives

Matthew and Mark employ the word to trace the steady hardening of Israel’s religious leadership against Jesus. Seven of the eight New Testament appearances lie within this passion narrative trajectory:

• Matthew 12:14 — “But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, how they might destroy Him.”
• Matthew 22:15 — “Then the Pharisees went out and plotted together how they might trap Jesus in His words.”
• Mark 3:6 — “At this, the Pharisees went out and immediately began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.”

Those three early references show a covert resolve that rejects mounting evidence of Christ’s messianic identity. The next group of uses depict the culmination of that hostility:

• Matthew 27:1 — “When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.”
• Mark 15:1 — “Early in the morning the chief priests, with the elders, scribes, and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation, and binding Jesus, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.”

The leaders’ consultation moves from plotting to judicial action. Even the disposal of Judas’s blood money and the cover-up of the resurrection are carried out through further deliberations:

• Matthew 27:7 — “So they conferred together and bought with it the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.”
• Matthew 28:12 — “And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money.”

Each occurrence underscores calculated, collective opposition to God’s redemptive plan, yet paradoxically serves that very plan (Acts 2:23).

Occurrence in Acts

Acts 25:12 records the term’s only neutral use: “Then Festus, having conferred with his council, replied, ‘You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!’” Here the governor’s advisory board functions as a legal consultative body. The verse shows that civil governance, even when imperfect, can still advance divine purposes by moving Paul toward Rome, fulfilling the Lord’s promise (Acts 23:11).

Religious and Political Counsel

The Gospel verses reveal cooperation between religious authorities (Pharisees, chief priests, elders, scribes) and political figures (Herodians) in opposition to Jesus. This alliance highlights the danger of counsel shaped by fear of losing influence rather than by submission to truth. Conversely, Acts 25:12 exhibits a legitimate governmental council acting within its jurisdiction. Scripture therefore distinguishes between conspiratorial counsel that resists God and orderly counsel that maintains justice (Romans 13:1–4).

Contrast with Divine Counsel

Human deliberations aimed at thwarting God’s purposes ultimately fulfill them. The plotted death of Christ becomes the means of atonement; the bribery of soldiers spreads testimony that the tomb was empty; Festus’s administrative ruling carries the gospel to Caesar’s household. The narrative arc affirms, “The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever” (Psalm 33:10–11).

Ministry Implications

1. Discernment: Leaders in church and family must test counsel against revealed truth. Unsanctified agreement, even among respected voices, can be lethal (Matthew 27:1).
2. Integrity: Decisions about resources (Matthew 27:7) and information (Matthew 28:12) require transparency lest they become instruments of deceit.
3. Confidence in Providence: Believers can trust that no hostile strategy can derail the missions of Christ or His servants (Romans 8:28).
4. Prayer for Authorities: Festus’s example calls Christians to pray that governing officers will administer justice impartially, furthering the advance of the gospel (1 Timothy 2:1–4).

The scriptural portrait of this term thus warns against ungodly conspiracies, commends righteous deliberation, and magnifies the supremacy of the Lord’s counsel in redemptive history.

Forms and Transliterations

συμβουλιον συμβούλιον συμβούλιόν συμβουλιου συμβουλίου sumboulion sumbouliou symboulion symboúlion symboúlión symbouliou symboulíou

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 12:14 N-ANS
GRK: οἱ Φαρισαῖοι συμβούλιον ἔλαβον κατ'
NAS: went out and conspired against
KJV: and held a council against
INT: the Pharisees a counsel held against

Matthew 22:15 N-ANS
GRK: οἱ Φαρισαῖοι συμβούλιον ἔλαβον ὅπως
NAS: went and plotted together how
KJV: and took counsel how
INT: the Pharisees counsel took how

Matthew 27:1 N-ANS
GRK: δὲ γενομένης συμβούλιον ἔλαβον πάντες
NAS: of the people conferred together against
KJV: took counsel against
INT: moreover having arrived counsel took all

Matthew 27:7 N-ANS
GRK: συμβούλιον δὲ λαβόντες
NAS: And they conferred together
KJV: And they took counsel, and bought with
INT: Counsel and having taken

Matthew 28:12 N-ANS
GRK: τῶν πρεσβυτέρων συμβούλιόν τε λαβόντες
NAS: with the elders and consulted together,
KJV: and had taken counsel, they gave large
INT: the elders counsel moreover having taken

Mark 3:6 N-ANS
GRK: τῶν Ἡρῳδιανῶν συμβούλιον ἐδίδουν κατ'
NAS: out and immediately [began] conspiring with the Herodians
KJV: took counsel with
INT: the Herodians counsel took against

Mark 15:1 N-ANS
GRK: εὐθὺς πρωὶ συμβούλιον ποιήσαντες οἱ
NAS: held a consultation; and binding
KJV: held a consultation with
INT: early in morning a counsel having formed the

Acts 25:12 N-GNS
GRK: μετὰ τοῦ συμβουλίου ἀπεκρίθη Καίσαρα
NAS: had conferred with his council, he answered,
KJV: with the council, answered,
INT: with the Council answered To Ceasar

Strong's Greek 4824
8 Occurrences

συμβούλιον — 7 Occ.
συμβουλίου — 1 Occ.