חָזוֹן (cha.zon)
cha.zon
vision
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chazon refers to a divine vision, typically experienced during sleep or in an ecstatic state. It denotes a mental sight where God communicates future events or truth to a prophet. This word appears frequently in the prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, often serving as the title for collections of oracle.
Its root verb means to see or gaze intently, suggesting that chazon is more than a casual glimpse; it is a clear, authoritative revelation. Unlike general dreams, these visions carry the weight of an oracle, demanding attention and interpretation. For instance, Daniel receives detailed apocalyptic insights through chazon (Daniel 8:1), while Habakkuk is instructed to write down what he sees in such a vision (Habakkuk 2:2).
Translators usually render chazon as "vision," though it overlaps with terms for prophecy or oracle. The distinction lies in the mode of reception: chazon emphasizes the visual and revelatory aspect of God's message. This term underscores the belief that divine truth is not always heard but often seen, requiring the recipient to perceive spiritual realities beyond ordinary sight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we encounter the word chazon in Scripture, we are looking at a specific kind of divine communication. It is not merely a fleeting thought or a casual dream. Instead, it represents a clear, authoritative sight where God reveals truth about the future or His character to a prophet. This concept reminds us that God often speaks in ways that require us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and perceive spiritual realities.
For believers today, this word offers comfort in seasons of uncertainty. Just as Habakkuk was instructed to write down what he saw because it would surely come (Habakkuk 2:2), we can trust that God’s promises are reliable even when they seem distant. The assurance that God reveals His plans helps us navigate life with confidence, knowing that He is actively guiding history and our personal paths.
Understanding chazon encourages a posture of attentive listening and watching. It invites us to seek God’s perspective rather than relying solely on our own limited view. This divine sight is meant to guide, correct, and hope us, pointing toward His ultimate purposes. We can rest in the knowledge that the One who reveals these things is faithful to bring them to pass.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ vision4×
- [the] vision4×
- vision3×
- in the/ vision3×
- [the] vision of3×
- a vision of2×
- a vision2×
- in/ [the] vision of1×
- from/ vision1×
- [will be] the/ vision1×
- [is] vision1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָז֖וֹן5×
- מֵֽ/חָז֔וֹן1×
- חָזוֹן֙1×
- חָז֣וֹן1×
- חָז֞וֹן1×
- חָז֔וֹן1×
- חָ֭זוֹן1×
- חֲזוֹן֙1×
- חֲז֨וֹן1×
- חֲז֤וֹן1×
- חֲז֣וֹן1×
- חֲז֖וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Habakkuk 2:2
Yahweh answered me, “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it.
This verse commands the prophet to record the vision clearly, emphasizing its reliability and future fulfillment despite any apparent delay.
-
Daniel 8:17
So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, for the vision belongs to the time of the end.”
Here the term clarifies that the vision specifically pertains to 'the time of the end,' linking the revelation to eschatological events.
-
Isaiah 1:1
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
The book opens by identifying its content as a chazon, establishing it as an authoritative prophetic message concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
-
Jeremiah 23:16
Yahweh of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.
This occurrence contrasts true divine revelation with false prophets who speak visions from their own hearts rather than from God.