boule denotes an intended course or settled purpose, whether attributed to God, a group, or human hearts.

The dominant use concerns God's determined purpose: it is declared, carried out, and described as unchangeable. The same term also marks a proposed course formed by people or a group, while its plural form can identify the hidden intentions of hearts.

1. God's determined purpose · dominant

   In Acts 2:23 the dative singular occurs in the clause describing Jesus as handed over by God's determined purpose, and Acts 4:28 speaks of what God's hand and purpose predestined to happen. The APB also renders the term in Acts 20:27 as the whole purpose declared to the audience, in Ephesians 1:11 as the purpose of the one working all things, and in Hebrews 6:17 as God's unchangeable purpose guaranteed by oath.

   Acts 2:23Acts 4:28Acts 20:27Ephesians 1:11Hebrews 6:17Luke 7:30
2. A human proposal or decision · common

   In Acts 27:12 the accusative singular belongs to the majority's decision to put to sea, and in Acts 27:42 the nominative singular identifies the soldiers' proposal to kill the prisoners. Luke 23:51 states that one man had not consented to their proposal and action, while Acts 5:38 sets a human proposal alongside a work that may be destroyed.

   Acts 27:12Acts 27:42Luke 23:51Acts 5:38
3. Hidden intentions of hearts · rare

   In 1 Corinthians 4:5 the accusative plural is linked with what the Lord will reveal: the hidden intentions of hearts, after the hidden things of darkness are illuminated.

   1 Corinthians 4:5

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term as "plan," including God's plan, a plan formed by soldiers, and a plan rejected or not consented to. In Ephesians 1:11 it uses "purpose," and in 1 Corinthians 4:5 it uses "plans of the hearts"; these are translation renderings rather than definitions.