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Counselor

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Various words are so translated:

1. dethabar (Dan. 3:2-3²Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. ³Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Daniel 3:2‑3)).

2. haddabrin (Dan. 3:24, 27²⁴Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. (Daniel 3:24)
²⁷And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. (Daniel 3:27); Dan. 4:36³⁶At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. (Daniel 4:36); Dan. 6:7⁷All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. (Daniel 6:7)).

3. yeat (Ezra 7:14-15¹⁴Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; ¹⁵And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, (Ezra 7:14‑15)). These three words are Chaldee, and refer to various heathen officials as counselors of state.

4. yaats. The counselors in Israel, such as Jonathan, and Ahithophel, David’s counselors (1 Chron. 27:32-33³²Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons: ³³And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion: (1 Chronicles 27:32‑33)). In Isaiah 9:6⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) the same word is applied to the Lord Jesus: “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

5. βουλευτής, a member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43⁴³Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:43); Luke 23:50⁵⁰And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (Luke 23:50)).

6. σύμωουλος, “a joint counselor” (Rom. 11:34³⁴For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (Romans 11:34)).

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Mark 15:43⁴³Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:43). Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor.

See also Luke 23:50⁵⁰And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (Luke 23:50).

The expression “counselor” means that Joseph was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrim or Great Council. Luke makes this clear by adding, “The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them” (Luke 23:51⁵¹(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. (Luke 23:51)). “Them” undoubtedly refers to the Jewish authorities who had condemned Jesus. It is supposed by some that the expression “honorable” was a title of distinction applied to every “counselor” or member of the Sanhedrim.

For a description of this Council, see note on Matthew 26:59⁵⁹Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; (Matthew 26:59) (#718).

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