Vision in the Bible has two means, the first is human sight and the other refers to prophetic messages.  The word chizzayown (Strong’s 2384) is one of the Hebrew words for prophecy especially if it is delivered through dreams.  Just for the record there are other words that are used for messages from God through dreams.  Chizzayown is used nine times in scriptures.  It is used the most in the book of Job but this study started in Isaiah 22 where Jerusalem is referred to the “Valley of Vision.”  Only two of the nine are actually messages (visions) while the others talk about who, what, and how of a vision.

VALLEY OF VISION  Isaiah 22 carries a message of destruction, not because Jerusalem did not prepare their defenses to defend the city but because they did not seek God and repent of their sins.  Instead they threw a party and said, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die (verse 13).”  Once again Jerusalem choose to ignore God even though they had been told the problem and that destruction was coming.

The word here for valley is gahee and its root word means arrogance and pride.  It is a very steep-walled valley and would present a formable challenge to either climb up or down.  Where you are in this kind of valley certainly would influence your thinking about the circumstances you are in.  If you are at the bottom of a gahee the thought of climbing out or up those steep sides would be daunting.  The reverse is true if you happen to be at the top of the valley defending your position; it would be easy against anyone trying to come up the sides but I would not want to have to escape by climbing down those cliff walls.  (See Valleys)

Being called a “Valley of Vision” is an indictment against them because by Mark’s Translation it would be a “Steep Arrogance From Dreaming Up a Prophecy.”

THE TWO VISIONS  Only twice does chizzayown actually relate a vision.  The first time is in 2 Samuel 7, Nathan got the word at night (v.4) and it is referred to as a revelation in verse 17 (NIV).  This word is telling David he will not build the Temple and that his family would endure as rulers of Israel.  The second vision is a satanic vision that was given to Eliphaz in Job 4:17 – 21.  It really dictates the conversion in the rest of the book and is even quoted again by Bildad in Job 25:4 – 6.  Vine’s Dictionary comments that it was just an ordinary dream but I think it is clear that it had a spiritual origin just the wrong spirit.

VISION IN JOB  Even though Eliphaz’s vision dominates the dialogue it is Elihu (33: 14,15) who actually defines and tells us about chizzayown; it is God speaking to man through a vision of the night.  The other two uses are Job telling about terrifying visions (7:14) and Zopher (20:8) talking about the fleeting nature of night visions.

ASHAMED AND A PROMISE   The other times chizzayown is used is in Zechariah 13:4 when prophets will be ashamed of their gift because of the spiritual cleaning the Lord will do.  The last use is a promise in Joel 2:28 that when the Spirit is poured out in the last days that young men will have visions.