Machazeh

י"א חשון תשס"ת
Phasma Priscus 13

DovBear notes that the "word used for vision in Genesis 15:1 (machazeh) is unusual, and Aramaic. It appears only in the books of the prophets to introduce their visions."

After these things the word of the Divine came unto Abram in a vision, saying ...

This kind of vision (like the mitzvot) is "not in the heavens, that one should say, who can go up and get it for me that I may observe it" (Devarim 30:12).

Consequently, machazeh pertains to unified "spiritual" and "mundane" prophetic vision. It is not the lofty vision of Moses removed from common experience, nor the limited vision of constricted mundane consciousness - it is a synthesis of both kinds of awareness into something totally "awesome".

Like the state of yirah, machazeh has degrees of prophetic tolerance and refinement.