Original Word: חָזוֹן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chazown
Pronunciation: khaw-ZONE
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-zone')
KJV: vision
NASB: vision, visions
Word Origin: [from H2372 (חָזָה - see)]

1. a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle

vision

From chazah; a sight (mentally), i.e. A dream, revelation, or oracle -- vision.

see HEBREW chazah

Word Origin
from chazah
Definition
vision
NASB Translation
vision (31), visions (4).

חָזוֺן noun masculine^{Daniel 8:1} vision (on formation compare Lg^{BN 204}) — absolute ׳ח Hosea 12:11 25t.; construct חֲזוֺן Isaiah 1:1 8t.

1 vision, as seen in the ecstatic state "" קסם Micah 3:6; "" מקסם Ezekiel 12:24; "" חלמות Daniel 1:17; "" נביא Daniel 9:24; ׳חזה ח Ezekiel 12:27; Ezekiel 13:16; ׳ראה ח Daniel 8:15; ׳ראה בח Daniel 8:2 (twice in verse); Daniel 9:21; ׳דבּר בח Psalm 89:20; חזון נראה אל Daniel 8:1 vision appeared unto; ׳מצא ח מיהוה Lamentations 2:9 find a vision from Yahweh; also Ezekiel 12:22,23; Daniel 8:13,17,26; Daniel 10:14; Daniel 11:14.

2 vision, in the night חֲזוֺן לַיְלָה Isaiah 29:7.

3 divine communication in a vision, oracle, prophecy ׳בקשׁ ח מנביא seek a vision (prophecy) from prophet Ezekiel 7:26; "" דבר (יםׅ 1 Samuel 3:1; 1 Chronicles 17:15; חֲזוֺן לִבָּם יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ Jeremiah 23:16 a prophecy of their own hearts (minds) they speak; חֲזוֺן שֶׁקֶר וְקֶסֶם אֱלִיל וְתַרְמִית לִבָּם הֵמָּה מִתְנַבְּאִים Jeremiah 14:14 FALSE vision and (see אֱלִיל) worthless divination & deceit of their own hearts they are prophesying; ׳כתב ח write the vision Habakkuk 2:2; also Hosea 12:11; Habakkuk 2:3; Proverbs 29:18; Ezekiel 7:13 (strike out Co).

4 vision, as title of book of prophecy, ספר חזון נחוּם Nahum 1:1; ישׁעיהו ׳ח Isaiah 1:1; עבדיה ׳ח Obadiah; of other writings of prophets 2Chronicles 32:32.

Definition and Overview

חָזוֹן describes the divinely granted “vision” by which the Lord discloses His mind to chosen servants. More than an ecstatic experience, it is authoritative revelation that carries covenantal weight, standing alongside “the word of the LORD” as an instrument of inspiration. Because Scripture treats every authentic vision as God-breathed, chazon supplies both content and certainty to the prophetic message.

Distribution in Scripture

The term appears about thirty-five times, scattered through the Historical books (for example 1 Samuel 3:1), the Poetic writings (Psalm 89:19; Proverbs 29:18), and especially the Major and Minor Prophets (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Micah, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk). This wide distribution underscores its ongoing function from the monarchy through the exile and into post-exilic expectation.

Vision as Prophetic Revelation

1 Samuel 3:1 introduces the Samuel narrative by noting, “the word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were scarce.” The scarcity explains Israel’s moral drift and heightens the significance of Samuel’s calling. When the vision returns, so does authoritative guidance. Similarly, Nathan’s oracle to David is labeled a vision: “According to all these words and this entire vision, Nathan spoke to David” (2 Samuel 7:17). The vision validates David’s eternal covenant and eventually frames Messianic hope.

Vision and Covenant Accountability

Isaiah’s opening superscription, “The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw” (Isaiah 1:1), signals that every oracle in the book flows from a single, cohesive revelation. Throughout Isaiah, visions expose covenant violation (Isaiah 22:1-14) and confront leaders with their responsibility: “For this is a rebellious people… who say to the seers, ‘Do not see visions’” (Isaiah 30:9-10). Rejection of vision equals rejection of the covenant itself.

Proverbs 29:18 applies the principle to society at large: “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” In other words, moral order depends on the continuing proclamation of revealed vision, tethering practical obedience to divine disclosure.

Visions of Hope and Restoration

Amid judgment, visions also convey comfort. Psalm 89:19 recalls God’s historic pledge: “You spoke in a vision to Your godly ones and said: ‘I have bestowed help on a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people.’” During the darkest days of exile, Daniel receives a series of night visions detailing the rise and fall of empires and the certain triumph of God’s kingdom (Daniel 8:1-26; 9:21-27; 10:14). Hosea 12:10 looks back: “I spoke through the prophets and multiplied visions,” reminding the remnant that God never leaves His people without witness.

Eschatological Visions

The Minor Prophets package far-reaching hope in compact form:

Obadiah 1:1 opens, “This is the vision of Obadiah,” promising Edom’s downfall and Zion’s deliverance.

Nahum 1:1 records “The oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum,” assuring believers that oppressive empires are under divine judgment.

Habakkuk is told, “Write down the vision… though it lingers, wait for it; it will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Vision thus anchors steadfast faith until the appointed end.

Absence of Vision as Judgment

When the prophetic word is silenced, calamity follows. Lamentations 2:9 laments, “Her prophets receive no vision from the LORD.” Ezekiel 7:26 echoes the crisis: “Disaster upon disaster will come… they will seek a vision from the prophet, but teaching of the law will perish from the priest.” Micah 3:6 depicts false prophets cast into darkness: “The sun will set on the prophets, and the day will darken for them; the seers will be ashamed.” The Lord withholds vision to underline the folly of counterfeit revelation.

The Christological Trajectory

While chazon belongs to the Hebrew canon, its ultimate fulfillment is Christ, in whom all earlier visions converge. Hebrews 1:1-2 (though Greek) declares that God, “having spoken long ago to the fathers through the prophets in many portions and in many ways,” has now spoken in His Son. The unfolding of Old Testament vision prepares for the climactic revelation of the incarnate Word, guaranteeing continuity between covenant epochs.

Implications for Ministry Today

1. Proclamation: Faithful preaching re-articulates the Scriptural vision rather than substituting human opinion.
2. Moral clarity: Like Proverbs 29:18, congregational health depends on unveiled biblical vision that restrains sin and nurtures obedience.
3. Pastoral discernment: Samuel’s awakening (1 Samuel 3) warns against complacency; leaders must cultivate sensitivity to God’s revealed word.
4. Perseverance: Habakkuk’s instruction to “wait for the vision” encourages believers to trust God’s timetable despite apparent delay.
5. Gospel hope: Daniel’s and Isaiah’s expansive visions remind the church that present afflictions fit within a sovereign, redemptive storyline culminating in Christ’s kingdom.

Thus חָזוֹן threads through the Old Testament as God’s gracious self-disclosure—correcting, directing, warning, and consoling His people—until every promise finds its “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus Christ.

בְחָ֡זוֹן בֶּֽחָז֔וֹן בֶּחָזוֹן֒ בֶחָז֤וֹן בַּחֲז֞וֹן בחזון הֶֽחָז֔וֹן הֶחָז֑וֹן הֶחָז֛וֹן הֶחָז֣וֹן הֶחָז֤וֹן הֶחָזֽוֹן׃ החזון החזון׃ חֲז֖וֹן חֲז֛וֹן חֲז֣וֹן חֲז֤וֹן חֲז֥וֹן חֲז֨וֹן חֲזוֹן֙ חָ֭זוֹן חָז֔וֹן חָז֖וֹן חָז֞וֹן חָז֣וֹן חָז֤וֹן חָזֽוֹן׃ חָזוֹן֙ חזון חזון׃ מֵֽחָז֔וֹן מחזון ba·ḥă·zō·wn bachaZon baḥăzōwn be·ḥā·zō·wn ḇe·ḥā·zō·wn ḇə·ḥā·zō·wn bechazOn beḥāzōwn ḇeḥāzōwn ḇəḥāzōwn chaZon ḥă·zō·wn ḥā·zō·wn ḥăzōwn ḥāzōwn he·ḥā·zō·wn hechaZon heḥāzōwn mê·ḥā·zō·wn mechaZon mêḥāzōwn veChazonInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts