חֵזֵו

חֵזֵו

a sight

Definition

חֵזֵו (chêzêv) is an Aramaic noun meaning 'vision' or 'sight,' specifically referring to a divinely given revelation or prophetic dream. In the book of Daniel, it consistently denotes the supernatural visions granted to King Nebuchadnezzar and the prophet Daniel, which disclose future events and divine judgments (Daniel 2:19, 7:1). The word emphasizes the visual and revelatory nature of these experiences, distinguishing them from ordinary dreams or thoughts. These visions are presented as objective 'sights' shown by God, requiring interpretation to understand their meaning, as seen in Daniel 4:5-10.

Biblical Usage

This word appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, describing the prophetic visions central to the narrative. It is used for both the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:28, 4:5) and Daniel's own night visions (Daniel 7:1-2). The pattern shows it is a technical term for a divine communication through a visual medium, often concerning kingdoms and eschatological events. All 12 occurrences are clustered in Daniel 2-7, highlighting its role in apocalyptic literature.

Etymology

Derived from the Aramaic root חֲזָא (ḥăzāʾ), meaning 'to see' or 'to behold,' which corresponds to the Hebrew root חָזָה (ḥāzâ, H2370). The noun form חֵזֵו specifically denotes the thing seen—a vision or sight. It is a cognate with Hebrew words for vision, showing a shared semantic field of prophetic revelation across the Semitic languages in the biblical context.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it anchors the concept of divine revelation in the apocalyptic genre. The visions (חֵזֵו) in Daniel reveal God's sovereign control over history and the eventual establishment of His eternal kingdom (Daniel 2:44, 7:13-14). Understanding this term enriches Bible reading by highlighting that these were not mere dreams but authoritative disclosures of God's plan, emphasizing the visual and supernatural nature of prophetic communication in Scripture. In the ancient Near Eastern context, dreams and visions were commonly regarded as mediums for divine messages. However, Daniel's use of חֵזֵו, particularly in the Babylonian court setting, contrasts with pagan divination by presenting these visions as unambiguous revelations from the one true God, requiring His wisdom for interpretation. This affirmed Yahweh's supremacy over the gods of Babylon. חָזוֹן (chāzôn, H2377) — A Hebrew term for 'vision' often used by Hebrew prophets, broader in usage than the Aramaic חֵזֵו. מַרְאָה (marʾâ, H4759) — A Hebrew word for 'vision' or 'appearance,' sometimes used for supernatural sights (e.g., Numbers 12:6). חֲלוֹם (chalôm, H2472) — A more general term for 'dream,' which can include non-prophetic dreams (e.g., Genesis 20:3).

Word Details