חֲזָה (cha.zah)
cha.zah
to see
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 22 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb chazah means to see or behold, appearing twenty times in the books of Daniel and Ezra. It describes the physical act of witnessing events, such as King Nebuchadnezzar observing the figures in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:25). The word carries a sense of direct observation, often used when characters recount what they have visually encountered.
Beyond simple sight, chazah extends to mental perception. In Daniel 4:5, the king uses it to describe having a dream, linking visual experience with inner revelation. The sources also note a passive sense where the word implies something is "usual" or "seemly," suggesting a familiarity that comes from repeated viewing. This range allows the term to bridge concrete sight and abstract recognition.
Translators typically render chazah as "see," "behold," or "have seen." The consistent usage in Daniel highlights its role in recording royal visions and historical spectacles. By focusing on what is actually observed, the word grounds divine messages in tangible reality for the reader.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word chazah invites us to look beyond the surface of our daily experiences. While it often describes physical sight, such as Nebuchadnezzar witnessing the four figures in the fire, it also captures the deeper act of understanding what God reveals. This dual meaning reminds us that true seeing involves both observation and insight.
In a world filled with distractions, this word encourages a posture of attentive faith. It suggests that when we encounter challenges or mysteries, we are called to look closely and trust in the clarity of divine perspective. The visions recorded in Daniel show how God uses sight to ground His people in reality, offering hope through tangible signs.
Whether you are observing a difficult situation or seeking understanding in prayer, chazah points to the value of clear vision. It invites us to rest in the knowledge that God sees all things and reveals what is necessary for our journey. May your eyes be opened to the blessings and lessons present in every moment.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 22 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- seeing11×
- you saw4×
- you have seen1×
- to/ see1×
- he saw1×
- [was] seeing1×
- [was] proper1×
- [they were] seeing1×
- [are] seeing1×
- [am] seeing1×
- I saw1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָזֵ֣ה7×
- חָזֵ֤ה2×
- לְ/מֶֽחֱזֵ֑א1×
- חָזַ֧יִן1×
- חָזַ֣יִן1×
- חָזֵ֨ה1×
- חָזֵ֥ה1×
- חָזֵ֜ה1×
- חָזֵ֔ה1×
- חֲזָ֔ה1×
- חֲזַ֡יְתָ1×
- חֲזַ֜יְתָה1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 3:25
He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
This verse highlights the physical aspect of chazah as Nebuchadnezzar witnesses the miraculous preservation of the faithful, grounding the divine intervention in a visible event.
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Daniel 7:13
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
Here the word connects visual experience with prophetic revelation, describing Daniel's vision of the Son of Man as a key moment of spiritual insight.
-
Daniel 5:5
In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
The king's act of seeing the writing on the wall demonstrates how chazah can mark a pivotal moment of realization and divine judgment in human history.