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חָזָה

𐤇𐤆𐤄

châzâh

H2372 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To see, perceive, or observe, especially in the sense of a direct or vivid visual or mental experience; to behold, gaze attentively, or witness, often with an implication of gaining insight or understanding. In prophetic contexts, to see or receive a vision, particularly as a mode of revelation or oracular experience. Occasionally, to provide or foresee (rare, and only by extension).

Semantic Range

to see (more vivid or intense than ordinary seeing), to gaze at, to behold, to perceive (mentally or spiritually), to receive a vision (especially in prophetic contexts), to contemplate, to observe attentively, to prophesy (by extension), to provide for (rare, allegorical or extended sense)

Root / Etymology

From the root חזה, which fundamentally pertains to 'seeing' or 'perceiving.' The verb חָזָה originally described an intense or vivid act of seeing, whether with the physical eye or inwardly through mental or spiritual perception. While חזה is often translated simply as 'to see,' its nuance lies in the quality or mode of perception—frequently visionary, extraordinary, or prophetic in biblical contexts. The noun חָזוֹן (chazôn), 'vision,' is derived from this root and emphasizes revelation received through seeing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָזָה is most frequently encountered in poetic or prophetic texts, notably within Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and several Psalms. Its usage tends to differ from the more general Hebrew verbs for 'to see' (e.g., רָאָה, 'to see' in the sense of ordinary perception) by emphasizing a direct, sometimes ecstatic or supernatural, experiential mode of seeing. This may be physical (with the eyes) or non-physical (as in prophetic visions). In prophetic books, חָזָה and its derived forms refer specifically to receiving divine revelation through visions. The verb is also used in wisdom literature, sometimes in the sense of contemplating or attentively observing. In very rare cases, the root is extended metaphorically to refer to providing or ensuring something (cf. Job 15:17), but this sense is secondary. English translations sometimes render חָזָה and its derivatives as 'prophesy' or even 'provide,' but these may obscure the primary nuance of vivid or revelatory seeing. The term for 'seer' (חֹזֶה, chozeh) is related and denotes a prophet characterized by this form of visionary experience, distinct from other prophetic terms like נָבִיא (navi, 'prophet') or רֹאֶה (ro'eh, 'seer' with a different nuance). The semantic field broadens in post-biblical Hebrew, but such senses are outside the scope of the Hebrew Bible. The translation 'to prophesy' reflects later interpretation based on the association of vision with prophecy, but the lexical meaning is always rooted in 'seeing' or 'perceiving' in a vivid or extraordinary way.

Translation Consistency

primary "see" 39 occurrences

Most frequent and natural English rendering across the range of meanings (ordinary and intensified/visionary sight). 'See' covers literal seeing, vivid beholding, perceiving/observing, and receiving a vision in prophetic contexts, and it will produce natural-sounding inflections; more archaic options like 'behold' are less natural for consistent modern usage.

Alternatives (12 occurrences):
"behold" (5x) "beheld" (4x) "observe" (1x) "gazed at" (1x) "beholds" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have avision of; behold, look, prophesy, provide, see.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חזה (ḥ-z-h) — to see, to perceive, to gaze, to behold (especially in a vivid or visionary way)

Root חזה to see, to perceive, to gaze, to behold (especially in a vivid or visionary way)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2306 חֲדִי his breast
H2335 חוֹזַי Visionary-One
H2370 חֲזָא he beheld
H2371 חֲזָאֵל El-has-seen
H2373 חָזֶה front breast

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2372-10 חֲז֖וּ chazu HVqv2mp have seen Gaze intently! See (pl.)! 8
H2372-03 חָזָ֔ה chazah HVqp3ms he saw he beheld he saw 7
H2372-12 אֶחֱזֶ֣ה echezeh HVqh1cs I see let me behold I shall see 4
H2372-23 יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה yechezeh HVqi3ms he looks he will behold he will see 3
H2372-15 תֶּחֱזֶ֣ינָה techezeynah HVqi3fp let behold they (fem.) will behold may behold 3
H2372-24 יֶחֱז֤וּ yechezu HVqi3mp behold they will behold they will see 3
H2372-06 חָזִ֡יתָ chazita HVqp2ms Have you seen you beheld have you seen 2
H2372-19 וַֽ/יֶּחֱזוּ֙ vayechezu HC/Vqw3mp and they have seen and they beheld and they saw 2
H2372-16 תֶחֱזוּ techezu HVqi2mp prophesy you will behold you (plural) will see 2
H2372-04 חֲזֵ֣ה chazeh HVqv2ms see vision-of see 2

Occurrences in Scripture

51 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2372-14 Exodus 18:21 תֶחֱזֶ֣ה techezeh HVqi2ms shall see you will behold you will observe
H2372-19 Exodus 24:11 וַֽ/יֶּחֱזוּ֙ vayechezu HC/Vqw3mp and they saw and they beheld and they saw
H2372-23 Numbers 24:4 יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה yechezeh HVqi3ms sees he will behold he will see
H2372-23 Numbers 24:16 יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה yechezeh HVqi3ms seeing he will behold he will see
H2372-03 Isaiah 1:1 חָזָ֔ה chazah HVqp3ms he saw he beheld he saw
H2372-03 Isaiah 2:1 חָזָ֔ה chazah HVqp3ms saw he beheld he saw
H2372-03 Isaiah 13:1 חָזָ֔ה chazah HVqp3ms Isaiah saw he beheld he saw
H2372-22 Isaiah 26:11 יֶחֱזָי֑וּ/ן yechezayun HVqi3mp/Sn they-will-see-it they will behold they will see it
H2372-24 Isaiah 26:11 יֶחֱז֤וּ yechezu HVqi3mp they-will-see they will behold they will see
H2372-16 Isaiah 30:10 תֶחֱזוּ techezu HVqi2mp prophesy you will behold you (plural) will see
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