Counselor, The Verb

"Counselor" is a word used in Isaiah 9:6 that many Christians believe is the noun being described by the word "Wonderful."  However, as I discussed earlier, Wonderful was not an adjective,   It was a noun.  Today we explore the word Counselor, which is used as a verb in Isaiah 9:6, not a noun.   Nouns tend to passively describe a person, place or thing; while verbs are usually dynamic voices of action. 

In Hebrew, the word 'Counselor' is spelled "yo'ats."  Yo'ats consists of four letters: yod, vav, 'ayin, and tsadhe.  Each Hebrew letter has an image associated with it.  The first two letters in the word Counselor are also the first two letters in the name Yaweh.  Let's look at the word picture for the verb Counselor below:

             Yod - Hand, arm, to work
             Vav - Nail, hook, connecting together
             'Ayiin - Eye, fountain, to see, to understand,
                           to experience
             Tsadhe - Fish hook, to pull forward,
                             something inescapable, desire

As you might notice the first two letters are a hand with a nail.  This is the picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose hands were pierced on the cross.   The third letter gives us the concept of knowing or understanding (sees your need).  The fourth letter in Counselor gives the concept of a hook and pulling forward. Thus, the word picture for "Counselor" in Hebrew is of Jesus knowing what motivates or hooks us and draws us forward.

Remember counselor is used as a verb in Isaiah.  Thus, in describing God, He is always actively drawing you forward.  What a great Counselor we have!  Yahweh is not a passive psychotherapist to who waits for us to come to Him before He helps us with our troubles.  He is an active Savior who knows our needs and is continually seeking us out and drawing us to Himself!

Counselor as a verb combined with the noun "Wonderful," creates the imagery of a Awesome God who is constantly working for us to draw near to Him.  The portrait of a Wonderful Counselor (Noun, Verb) reminded me of the bible verse

              "how can two walk together unless they be in agreement," Amos 3:3. 

Christians walk together with Christ not by their own strength or power, but because Jesus draws them continually.   He truly is the Fisher of Men, drawing mankind by a hook unto Himself to save them from their sins.

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