It is a little difficult to show a difference between the seers and the prophets of the Old Testament.  (Seers are not mentioned in the New Testament.)  Although the terms are different, it seems they refer to the same person as we read in 1 Samuel 9:9 which says, “(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)”  We also read where a prophet was a seer in 2 Samuel 24:11, “For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer…” 

Yet in about ten instances, the seers and prophets are mentioned separately.  One example is 1 Chronicles 29:29, “Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of SAMUEL THE SEER, and in the book of NATHAN THE PROPHET, and in the book of GAD THE SEER.” In the Old Testament and the New Testament, Samuel is referred to as a prophet. (2 Chronicles 35:18 and Acts 13:20).  From this we can see that it was possible to be both a seer and a prophet. 

Let’s look at the definition of the seer and the prophet to see if that will help us discern if there is a difference between the two. 

SEER – The Hebrew word is “chôzeh” and is defined as “a beholder in vision.”

PROPHET – The Hebrew word is “nâbîyʼ” and is defined as “an inspired man.” 

Perhaps the difference is found in how the seer, or the prophet received their message from the Lord.

Let’s see how Jeremiah received his revelations from the Lord.

  • In Jeremiah 1:11-14 we read, “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.” 

Let’s see how some of the prophets received their revelations from the Lord.

  • In 1 Kings 13:26 we read, “And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.”
  • In Jeremiah 46:13 we read, “The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.” 

In these instances, we see that the Lord visually revealed revelation to the seers and spoke revelation to the prophets.  If some were both prophets and seers, they might receive revelation from the Lord through visual means or oral means.  I would not dare be dogmatic in this case, but this possibly may be the difference in the two…if any.

I would be remiss if I did not address how that the Word of God was not completed in the Old Testament days, so the Lord often used seers and prophets to reveal His will to His people.  Today, we have the complete Word of God and we do not need these phenomenal instances of the Lord making known His will.  His will is revealed to us in the completed Bible, and we have not need of such phenomenon.  We read in 1 Corinthians 13:10 of the value of the completed Word of God.  That says, “But when that which is perfect (complete) is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”  (CC)  (586.2)