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חֹזֶה

𐤇𐤆𐤄

chôzeh

H2374 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חזה to see, perceive, behold visions

Definition

Professional or designated individual who receives visions or revelations, especially in a prophetic context; a 'seer' or visionary. The term can also refer contextually to those offering counsel or interpreting divine messages received in visions. In rare non-personal use, it can refer to a formally ratified agreement or compact, possibly as something 'seen' and confirmed before witnesses.

Semantic Range

seer, visionary, one who receives or interprets visions, prophetic advisor, interpreter of divine revelation; (rare) compact, agreement formally witnessed or ratified

Root / Etymology

From the root חזה, meaning 'to see' or 'to perceive,' often used in the sense of perceiving visions or revelations. The noun חֹזֶה is an active participle form, denoting 'one who sees' or 'seer.' The occasional extended meaning of 'compact' or 'agreement' likely arises from the idea of something being 'seen' or acknowledged before witnesses.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, חֹזֶה is most frequently used in reference to an official or recognized figure in Israelite society who receives and interprets divine visions—functionally overlapping with, but sometimes distinct from, the term נָבִיא ('prophet'). The distinction between חֹזֶה and רֹאֶה ('seer') is nuanced, with חֹזֶה more often associated with visionary experiences and formal roles (e.g., prophetic advisors in the monarchy period such as Gad or Iddo). By the late monarchic and post-exilic periods, the terminology of prophetic office shifted, and חֹזֶה became less prominent, with greater emphasis on נָבִיא. The rare non-personal use (agreement or compact) is attested in contexts where a formal arrangement is confirmed before witnesses, echoing the link to witnessing or seeing. English translations often render חֹזֶה as 'seer' or 'prophet,' though 'seer' more accurately preserves the Hebrew nuance of visionary experience, as opposed to the broader or more theologically loaded 'prophet.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

active participle of חָזָה; a beholder in vision; also a compact (as looked upon with approval); agreement, prophet, see that, seer, (star-) gazer.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חזה (ḥ-z-h) — to see, perceive, behold visions

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2306 חֲדִי his breast
H2335 חוֹזַי Visionary-One
H2370 חֲזָא he beheld
H2371 חֲזָאֵל El-has-seen
H2372 חָזָה in visionary seeing

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2374-01 חֹזֵ֥ה chozeh HNcmsc seer vision-seer 8
H2374-03 הַ/חֹזֶֽה hachozeh HTd/Ncmsa the seer the vision-seer 5
H2374-04 הַ/חֹזִ֖ים hachozim HTd/Ncmpa the-seers the vision-seers 5
H2374-02 חֹזִ֣ים chozim HVqrmpa seers vision-seers 1
H2374-06 וְ/לַ֣/חֹזִ֔ים velachozim HC/Rd/Vqrmpa and to the prophets and to the seers 1
H2374-05 וְ/הַ/חֹזִ֥ים vehachozim HC/Td/Vqrmpa and the seers and the vision-seers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2374-01 2 Samuel 24:11 חֹזֵ֥ה chozeh HNcmsc seer vision-seer
H2374-01 2 Kings 17:13 חֹזֶ֜ה chozeh HNcmsa seer vision-seer
H2374-01 Isaiah 28:15 חֹזֶ֑ה chozeh HNcmsa agreement vision-seer
H2374-04 Isaiah 29:10 הַ/חֹזִ֖ים hachozim HTd/Ncmpa the seers the vision-seers
H2374-06 Isaiah 30:10 וְ/לַ֣/חֹזִ֔ים velachozim HC/Rd/Vqrmpa and to the prophets and to the seers
H2374-04 Isaiah 47:13 הַֽ/חֹזִים֙ hachozim HTd/Vqrmpa the gazers the vision-seers
H2374-04 Ezekiel 13:9 הַ/חֹזִ֣ים hachozim HTd/Vqrmpa the-seers the vision-seers
H2374-05 Ezekiel 13:16 וְ/הַ/חֹזִ֥ים vehachozim HC/Td/Vqrmpa and the seers and the vision-seers
H2374-02 Ezekiel 22:28 חֹזִ֣ים chozim HVqrmpa seers vision-seers
H2374-01 Amos 7:12 חֹזֶ֕ה chozeh HNcmsa seer vision-seer
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