βουλ-εύω G1011
To deliberate, take counsel, plan; to resolve upon a course of action after careful thought.
A verb of deliberation and purposeful decision-making: to weigh options, consult with oneself or others, and arrive at a plan of action. The middle voice (bouleuomai), which predominates in the New Testament, emphasizes personal deliberation rather than external advising. Luke 14:31 pictures a king who 'sits down first and deliberates' whether he can meet an opposing army—a parable about counting the cost of discipleship. The Sanhedrin 'plotted' to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus (John 11:53; 12:10). Paul uses it to defend his sincerity: 'When I planned this, did I do it lightly?' (2 Cor 1:17). Spanish 'deliberar' and French 'délibérer' both preserve the Latin root for careful weighing of counsel.
Senses
1. deliberate, take counsel, plan — To deliberate, take counsel, or resolve upon a course of action after weighing options. The middle voice underscores personal, purposeful decision-making. A king sits down to deliberate before marching to war (Luke 14:31), modeling thoughtful assessment. The Jewish council resolved to kill both Jesus (John 11:53) and Lazarus (John 12:10), showing deliberation leading to a sinister verdict. Paul appeals to the concept when asking whether he made his travel plans lightly (2 Cor 1:17). Spanish 'deliberar,' French 'délibérer,' and German 'beschliessen' all converge on purposeful, reasoned planning. 6×
AR["أَقصِدُ", "تَشَاوَرُوا", "فَكَّرُوا", "يَتَشَاوَرُ"]·ben["আমি-পরিকল্পনা-করি,", "পরামর্শ-করবে", "পরামর্শ-করলেন", "পরামর্শ-করিতেছিল"]·DE["beschliessen", "βουλεύσεται", "ἐβουλεύοντο"]·EN["I-plan", "do-I-plan", "plotted", "they-plotted", "they-were-planning", "will-consider"]·FR["délibérer"]·heb["הִתְיָעֲצוּ", "הֶחְלִיטוּ", "יִתְיָעֵץ", "מַחְלִיט"]·HI["योजना-बनाई", "विचारेगा", "सम्मति-की", "सोचता-हूं", "सोचतेथे"]·ID["aku-rencanakan", "bermufakat", "mempertimbangkan", "merencanakan,"]·IT["bouleusetai", "consigliare", "ebouleusanto"]·jav["badhé-nimbang", "kula-rancang,", "ngrembag", "piyambakipun-sedaya-ngrembag", "rancang,"]·KO["계획하였다", "계획한다", "모의했다", "의논하지"]·PT["deliberará", "deliberavam,", "delibero"]·RU["замышляю", "обдумает", "решили"]·ES["Deliberaron", "deliberaron", "deliberará", "planeo", "resolvieron"]·SW["hatafikiri", "nakusudia,", "walikusudia", "walishauriana"]·TR["düşünür", "düşünüyorlardı", "irade ediyorum", "karar-verdiler"]·urd["ارادہ-کرتا-ہوں", "مشورہ-کرتے-تھے", "مشورہ-کرے-گا", "مشورہ-کیا"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
βουλ-εύω, Refs 8th c.BC+, aorist ἐβούλευσα Refs 8th c.BC+, Epic dialect βούλ- Refs 8th c.BC+: perfect βεβούλευκα Refs 5th c.BC+:—middle and passive, see below: (βουλή):—take counsel, deliberate, in past tenses, determine or resolve after deliberation: __1 absolutely, ὣς βουλεύσαντε Refs 8th c.BC+; βουλευέμεν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι in council or in battle, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἔς γε μίαν βουλεύσομεν (i.e.…