מַחֲזֶה
a vision
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַחֲזֶה (machăzeh) refers to a divinely given vision or revelation. It describes a supernatural sight, often received in a dream or trance, where God communicates a message to a prophet or recipient. In Genesis 15:1, God's word comes to Abram 'in a vision' (בַּמַּחֲזֶה), framing a covenantal promise. In the oracles of Balaam (Numbers 24:4, 16), the term specifies the prophetic state of one who 'sees the vision of the Almighty.' A distinct, negative usage appears in Ezekiel 13:7, where false prophets utter a 'false vision' (חֲזוֹן שָׁוְא), indicating the term could be applied to deceptive revelations as well.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in contexts of divine communication to prophets. It appears in narrative (Genesis), prophetic oracle (Numbers—Balaam's speeches), and prophetic judgment (Ezekiel). The pattern shows it is a technical term for an authentic prophetic experience, though Ezekiel 13:7 warns it can be counterfeited. All four occurrences involve a recipient (Abram, Balaam, false prophets) receiving a message that is not from ordinary sight.
Etymology
Derived from the root חָזָה (H2372), meaning 'to see, perceive, or gaze at.' The noun form מַחֲזֶה is a 'maqtal' pattern noun indicating the place, instrument, or result of the action—here, 'the thing seen' or 'the means of seeing.' It is closely related to the more common word for vision, חָזוֹן (chazon, H2377), but מַחֲזֶה often emphasizes the visionary experience itself.
Semantic Range
This word is key for understanding biblical prophecy and revelation. It highlights that true knowledge of God's will often comes through supernatural disclosure, not human deduction. The contrast between true visions (as with Abram and Balaam) and false visions (Ezekiel 13:7) underscores the need for discernment and the importance of the vision's divine source. Understanding this term enriches reading by clarifying the prophetic experience as a direct, visual-auditory encounter with God.
In the ancient Near East, visions were a recognized mode of divine communication, shared by Israel and its neighbors (e.g., Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet). However, Israelite faith strictly tied the validity of a vision to the authority of Yahweh, the God of Israel. A 'vision' was not considered a subjective mental image but an objective revelation from God, demanding a faithful response.
חָזוֹן (chazon, H2377) — A more frequent general term for 'vision' or 'prophetic revelation,' often used for the content of the message. מַרְאָה (mar'ah, H4759) — A vision or appearance, often emphasizing the visual spectacle (e.g., Numbers 12:6).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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