ἐπιβουλ-ή G1917
a plot, conspiracy, scheme formed against someone
From epi ('against') and boule ('counsel, plan'), this noun denotes a deliberate scheme hatched against another person. All four NT occurrences appear in Acts and revolve around plots targeting Paul: the Jewish conspiracy in Damascus (9:24), the plot that diverted his travel plans in Greece (20:3), the 'plots of the Jews' he endured throughout his ministry (20:19), and the assassination plot reported to the Roman tribune (23:30). The word carries an air of secrecy and malicious intent.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A hostile plot or conspiracy devised against someone, implying secrecy and malicious coordination. Every NT instance involves schemes against the apostle Paul: the plot in Damascus (Acts 9:24), the conspiracy in Greece (20:3), ongoing Jewish plots (20:19), and the ambush plot reported to Claudius Lysias (23:30). Spanish 'asechanzas/conspiración' and French 'complot' capture the clandestine, adversarial character. The dative plural in Acts 20:19 suggests recurring, persistent plotting rather than a single incident. 4×
AR["بِمُؤَامَرَةٍ", "ـمُؤَامَرَاتِ", "مُؤَامَرَةٌ", "مُؤَامَرَةُ"]·ben["ষড়যন্ত্র", "ষড়যন্ত্রে"]·DE["ἐπιβουλαῖς", "ἐπιβουλὴ", "ἐπιβουλῆς"]·EN["a-plot", "plot", "plots"]·FR["complot"]·heb["מְזִמָּה", "מְזִמּוֹת"]·HI["षड़यंत्र", "षड़्यंत्र", "षड़्यंत्रों", "षड्यंत्रका"]·ID["komplot", "persekongkolan", "rencana"]·IT["insidia"]·jav["rancangan", "rencana-jahat"]·KO["음모-가", "음모가", "음모들에서"]·PT["cilada", "ciladas", "conspiração"]·RU["заговор", "заговора", "заговорах", "заговоре"]·ES["asechanzas", "conspiración", "de-complot"]·SW["hila"]·TR["komplo", "komplolarda"]·urd["سازش", "سازش-کی", "سازشوں"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπιβουλ-ή, ἡ, plan formed against another, plot, scheme, Refs 5th c.BC+; πρός τινα against one, Refs 5th c.BC+ by treachery, treacherously, ἐξ ἐ. ἀποθανεῖν, ἐξ ἐ. φονεὺς εἶναι, Refs 5th c.BC+ designedly, Refs 5th c.BC+