הָזָה (ha.zah)
ha.zah
to dream
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb hazah carries a dual meaning in Scripture: it describes both the act of dreaming during sleep and the state of raving or prophetic ecstasy. In its most common usage, particularly found in Isaiah 29:10, it refers to God closing the eyes of the people so they cannot see, effectively putting them into a deep sleep or dream-like stupor. This usage suggests a divinely imposed inability to perceive spiritual truth.
While the word can simply mean "to dream," its connection to "raving" implies a loss of normal mental control. In prophetic contexts, this aligns with the idea of being overwhelmed by divine inspiration, where the human mind is suspended or altered. The term highlights a state where ordinary perception is replaced by either unconscious dreaming or ecstatic utterance, depending on whether the experience is passive or inspired.
Translators often render hazah as "dream" when referring to sleep, but must choose "raving" or "prophesying" when the context involves intense spiritual activity. The word’s presence in Isaiah underscores a theme of divine concealment: God may induce this state to hide truth from those who are spiritually blind, while simultaneously revealing it to prophets who enter a similar altered consciousness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hazah reminds us that not every vision or dream comes from God. In Isaiah, it describes a state where spiritual perception is clouded, leaving people in a deep sleep unable to see the truth. This serves as a sobering reminder that our own minds can be dull if we are not attentive to God’s voice.
Yet this word also points to how God communicates with those who are open to Him. When the heart is humble and seeking, what might seem like confusion or silence gives way to clarity. We can trust that God desires to reveal Himself clearly to those who ask in faith.
In times when understanding feels distant, remember that God is patient. He does not leave us in darkness but invites us into His light through Scripture and prayer. May you find peace in knowing that He guides your steps toward truth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [they] dream1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הֹזִים֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 56:10
His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark— dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
This verse uses hazah to describe watchmen who are spiritually blind and inactive, illustrating how divine concealment can lead to negligence.