Lexical Summary chozeh: Seer, Visionary Original Word: חֹזֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance agreement, prophet, see that, seer, stargazer Active participle of chazah; a beholder in vision; also a compact (as looked upon with approval) -- agreement, prophet, see that, seer, (star-)gazer. see HEBREW chazah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originactive participle of chazah Definition a seer NASB Translation pact (1), prophets (1), seer (12), seers (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֹזֶה noun masculine seer; — absolute ׳ח Amos 7:12 7t.; construct חֹזֵה 1 Chronicles 21:9 3t.; חוֺזֵה2Chronicles 35:15; plural חֹזִים Isaiah 29:10 4t.; חוֺזִים2Chronicles 33:19 (so read with ᵐ5; חוֺזָי֑ ᵑ0 scribal error) — 1 seer: a. of unnamed persons, synonym נבא(יםׅ 2 Kings 17:13; Isaiah 29:10; רֹאִים Isaiah 30:10; קֹסְמִים Micah 3:7; historical writers דִּבְרֵי הַחֹוִים2Chronicles 33:18, דברי חוזים (ᵐ5) 2 Chronicles 33:19 (ᵑ0 apparently proper name) b. named prophets; Gad 2 Samuel 24:11 = 1 Chronicles 21:9; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2Chronicles 29:25; Amos Amos 7:12; Iddo 2Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; Jehu 2 Chronicles 19:2. c. the singers: Heman 1 Chronicles 25:5; Asaph 2Chronicles 29:30; Jeduthun 2 Chronicles 35:15. Note — It seems best to add 2 vision (compare רֹאֶה Isaiah 28:7) עִם שְׁאוֺל עָשִׂינוּ חֹזֶה Isaiah 28:15 with She'Ùl we made a vision (had a vision, in connection with She'Ùl — i.e. by necromancy, see Du — which makes us secure; "" כרת ברית אֶתמָֿוֶת; Ew§ 156 e transitive oracle here and 2 Kings 17:13; HoffmZAW iii. 95 puts this under 1: 'we have appointed a prophet with She'ol (SS 'Ein bei der Scheol be-stellter Seher'), who is answerable to us for it;' ᵐ5 ᵑ9 ᵑ7 AV RV Che Di and others, are at (or have made an) agreement (prophetic advice of seers being taken at time of making treaties; see חָזוּת 1), — See also כָּלחֹֿזֶה proper name, masculine below כּל. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope A חֹזֶה is a God-appointed visionary who receives and communicates divine revelation, whether through dreams, visions, or immediate inspiration. The word appears twenty-one times, spanning royal courts (2 Samuel 24:11), prophetic confrontation (Amos 7:12), liturgical direction (2 Chronicles 29:25), and denunciation of apostasy (Ezekiel 13:16). Distinction from “Prophet” (נָבִיא) While the two offices frequently overlap (2 Kings 17:13), “seer” stresses the mode of reception (“what he saw”), whereas “prophet” highlights the act of proclaiming. In practice, many individuals bore both titles (Gad, Nathan, Iddo). Scripture preserves the nuance without contradiction, underscoring the multifaceted nature of revelatory ministry. Royal Counsel and Crisis Guidance Seers stand beside kings at crucial turning points. Gad is sent to David after the census (2 Samuel 24:11-14); he also authors liturgical directives later followed by Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:25). Jehu son of Hanani rebukes Jehoshaphat for compromising with Ahab (2 Chronicles 19:2). These narratives reveal the divine priority that even monarchs submit to visionary correction. Keepers of the Historical Record Chronicles repeatedly cites seers as inspired historians. “Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the records of Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet, and Gad the seer” (1 Chronicles 29:29). Their writings supplied the canonical authors with authoritative source material, safeguarding covenant history for later generations. Levitical and Musical Influence Heman and Asaph, both called seers (1 Chronicles 25:5; 2 Chronicles 29:30; 35:15), organized temple music. Under David’s and Hezekiah’s reforms, visionary guidance shaped worship—affirming that liturgy flows from revelation, not human invention. Public Confrontation and Reform Seers often stand alone against societal drift. Isaiah depicts people who “say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’” (Isaiah 30:10). Amaziah of Bethel expels Amos with the derisive, “Go, you seer” (Amos 7:12). Such episodes emphasize that authentic revelation frequently opposes popular religion. False Seers and Divine Judgment Where true visionaries exist, counterfeits arise. Ezekiel pronounces: “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions” (Ezekiel 13:9). Isaiah warns of stupefied leaders whose “seers” are covered (Isaiah 29:10). The term even describes Babylon’s pagan astrologers—“the stargazers” (Isaiah 47:13)—highlighting how any visionary source detached from the LORD becomes idolatrous deception. Spiritual Blindness and Eschatological Hope When revelation is rejected, vision ceases: “The seers will be ashamed…there is no answer from God” (Micah 3:7). Yet the prophetic corpus anticipates a day when the Spirit is poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28), fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:17). The office of the seer thus foreshadows the universal prophetic community realized in Christ’s ascension gifts. Practical Implications for the Church 1. Scripture-grounded vision remains indispensable for leadership, worship, and moral reform. Summary חֹזֶה designates those who behold and faithfully declare God’s vision. Their ministry shaped Israel’s worship, corrected its kings, recorded its history, and warned against apostasy. Ultimately, the seer’s role finds its climax in Jesus Christ, the supreme revealer of the Father, and continues wherever His Word is rightly proclaimed and obeyed. Forms and Transliterations הַֽחֹזִ֔ים הַֽחֹזִים֙ הַחֹזִ֖ים הַחֹזִ֗ים הַחֹזִ֣ים הַחֹזֶ֑ה הַחֹזֶ֔ה הַחֹזֶ֖ה הַחֹזֶֽה׃ הַחֹזֶה֒ החזה החזה׃ החזים וְהַחֹזִ֥ים וְלַ֣חֹזִ֔ים והחזים ולחזים חֹזִ֣ים חֹזֵ֥ה חֹזֵֽה־ חֹזֶ֑ה חֹזֶ֕ה חֹזֶ֜ה חוֹזֵ֣ה חוזה חזה חזה־ חזים choZeh choZim ha·ḥō·zeh ha·ḥō·zîm hachoZeh hachoZim haḥōzeh haḥōzîm ḥō·w·zêh ḥō·zeh ḥō·zêh ḥō·zêh- ḥō·zîm ḥōwzêh ḥōzeh ḥōzêh ḥōzêh- ḥōzîm vehachoZim veLachoZim wə·ha·ḥō·zîm wə·la·ḥō·zîm wəhaḥōzîm wəlaḥōzîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 24:11 HEB: גָּ֣ד הַנָּבִ֔יא חֹזֵ֥ה דָוִ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר׃ NAS: Gad, David's seer, saying, KJV: Gad, David's seer, saying, INT: Gad to the prophet seer David's saying 2 Kings 17:13 1 Chronicles 21:9 1 Chronicles 25:5 1 Chronicles 29:29 2 Chronicles 9:29 2 Chronicles 12:15 2 Chronicles 19:2 2 Chronicles 29:25 2 Chronicles 29:30 2 Chronicles 33:18 2 Chronicles 35:15 Isaiah 28:15 Isaiah 29:10 Isaiah 30:10 Isaiah 47:13 Ezekiel 13:9 Ezekiel 13:16 Ezekiel 22:28 Amos 7:12 Micah 3:7 21 Occurrences |
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