Bible Word Study
חוֹזַי
Chôwzay · Chozai, an Israelite
חוֹזַי
Chozai, an Israelite
Definition
חוֹזַי (Chôwzay) is a proper noun referring to an individual named Chozai, identified as an Israelite. The name itself means 'visionary' or 'seer,' derived from the Hebrew root for seeing or beholding. In the biblical text, Chozai is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 33:19 as a source for the chronicler's account of King Manasseh's reign, specifically his prayer and the sins he committed. This indicates Chozai was likely a prophetic figure or historian whose records were used in compiling the history of Judah. The name underscores a role connected to divine revelation or historical testimony.
Biblical Usage
The word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 33:19, where it is used to cite Chozai as an authority: 'His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.' This singular usage places Chozai in a context of historical documentation, linking him to the prophetic tradition of 'seers' who recorded God's dealings with kings.
Etymology
The name חוֹזַי (Chôwzay) is derived from the Hebrew root חָזָה (ḥāzâ, H2374), meaning 'to see,' 'to behold,' or 'to perceive,' often in a visionary or prophetic sense. It is related to the noun חֹזֶה (ḥōzeh), meaning 'seer' or 'visionary.' This etymology highlights a connection to prophetic insight, suggesting Chozai was associated with receiving or recording divine visions, akin to other seers in Israel's history.
Semantic Range
Chozai's mention in 2 Chronicles 33:19 emphasizes the importance of prophetic testimony and historical records in understanding God's interaction with His people. It illustrates how God uses individuals, even lesser-known figures like seers, to preserve truth and document repentance, as seen in King Manasseh's story. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches Bible reading by highlighting the role of visionaries in shaping biblical history and affirming the reliability of scriptural accounts based on eyewitness sources. In ancient Israel, 'seers' (חֹזִים) were prophetic figures who received divine visions and often served as advisors or historians. Chozai's inclusion reflects a cultural practice of maintaining official records by such visionaries, which were considered authoritative for chronicling royal and national events. This differs from modern historical methods, as it blends spiritual insight with documentation, showing how faith and history were intertwined in Israelite society. חֹזֶה (ḥōzeh, H2374) — a general term for 'seer' or 'visionary,' often used interchangeably with 'prophet' (נָבִיא).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]