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βουλή

boulḗ

G1012 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Deliberate intention or counsel; the act or result of deliberate consideration, often with reference to a collective deliberative body or its decisions. In some contexts, indicates a plan, intention, or structured resolve formulated after reflection. Can also refer specifically to an advisory council or the result of group deliberation. The term's semantic range includes both the process of counseling and its resulting purpose or resolution.

Semantic Range

deliberate intention, counsel, advice, purpose, plan, resolution, advisory council, decision of a deliberative body

Root / Etymology

From the verb βούλομαι (‘to will, wish, intend, deliberate’), with the abstract noun ending -ή. Root reflects the notion of will or counsel expressed through consideration or deliberation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, βουλή referred both to the act of deliberation (especially in public or collective contexts) and to a deliberative body itself (such as the Athenian council, the Boule). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the term continued to denote act or result of counsel or purpose, frequently contrasted with θέλημα, which refers more generally to will or desire, less connected to deliberative process. In the Septuagint, βουλή can translate Hebrew עֵצָה (ʿēṣāh, ‘counsel, advice, plan’) and often denotes the plans or counsel of humans or the declared purpose of God, especially when carefully considered. In the New Testament, βουλή is mostly used of considered intention, purpose, or will (especially God’s purpose, e.g., Luke 7:30; Acts 13:36), emphasizing intentional deliberation. English translations often render βουλή as ‘counsel,’ ‘purpose,’ or ‘plan,’ but these may not always convey the full sense of considered or communal deliberation implied in the Greek. Unlike θέλημα, βουλή contains a stronger nuance of collective or reflective intent rather than simple wish or desire.

Translation Consistency

primary "plan" 10 occurrences

‘Plan’ is the most natural, broadly applicable single word to cover boulē’s typical senses — a deliberate intention, purpose, or decision/result of deliberation. It communicates intention, resolution, and a structured course of action (and can naturally render the outcome of a council’s deliberation) while remaining simple and consistent across forms.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"deliberate intentions" (1x) "deliberate counsel" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from βούλομαι; volition, i.e. (objectively) advice, or (by implication) purpose:--+ advise, counsel, will.

Root Family

βουλή (boulē) — will, deliberate intention, counsel, purpose

Root βουλ- to will, to deliberate, to counsel

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1012-02 βουλῇ boule N DAT F SG counsel to deliberate counsel to deliberate plan 6
G1012-03 βουλὴν boulen N ACC F SG counsel deliberate intention a deliberate plan 4
G1012-04 βουλῆς boules N GEN F SG counsel of deliberate counsel deliberate counsel 1
G1012-01 βουλὰς boulas N ACC F PL counsels deliberate intentions deliberate intentions 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1012-03 Luke 7:30 βουλὴν boulen N ACC F SG counsel deliberate intention a deliberate plan
G1012-02 Luke 23:51 βουλῇ boule N DAT F SG counsel to deliberate counsel to deliberate plan
G1012-02 Acts 2:23 βουλῇ boule N DAT F SG plan to deliberate counsel to deliberate plan
G1012-02 Acts 4:28 βουλὴ boule N NOM F SG counsel to deliberate counsel to deliberate plan
G1012-02 Acts 5:38 βουλὴ boule N NOM F SG counsel to deliberate counsel to deliberate plan
G1012-02 Acts 13:36 βουλῇ boule N DAT F SG purpose to deliberate counsel to deliberate plan
G1012-03 Acts 20:27 βουλὴν boulen N ACC F SG counsel deliberate intention a deliberate plan
G1012-03 Acts 27:12 βουλὴν boulen N ACC F SG to depart deliberate intention a deliberate plan
G1012-02 Acts 27:42 βουλὴ boule N NOM F SG plan to deliberate counsel to deliberate plan
G1012-01 1 Corinthians 4:5 βουλὰς boulas N ACC F PL counsels deliberate intentions deliberate intentions
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