Wonderful Counsellor

Isaiah 9:6

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’

The phrase ‘wonderful counsellor’ points to the promised Messiah whose wisdom stands above ordinary human insight. This word card traces the history behind each part of the title, from Old English ‘wundor’ to Latin ‘consilium’, and the Hebrew ‘pele yo‘etz’. The image of flowering sage sits alongside it. In English the word ‘sage’ also names a wise adviser, which supports the theme. The card sets the Hebrew roots beside the major European Bible translations that shaped how the phrase entered English, showing how languages across the Christian tradition have expressed the claim that true counsel and authority rest in Christ.

Each word card set begins with an image that captures the theme of the word. The following cards trace its story: a main word card (or two, if extended), a junior version with a paler border, an etymological breakdown showing how the word travelled through time, and a list of sources. Some sets also include cards for related words or translations across other languages. Together they show where each word came from, how it changed, and what it still carries with it.