Dreams in the Bible and Their Meanings
Published February 01, 2023
Dreaming is a universal human experience. We’ve all had dreams in our sleep. But while most dreams tend to be random, some may have deeper meanings to them.
In the Bible, some dreams are considered to be given by God. In fact, in some versions of the Bible, the word “vision in the night” is used, denoting that dreams are a message from God.
From prophets and kings to ordinary men, there are lots of examples in the scriptures about God using dreams to instruct and to warn. So if you’ve had a rather mysterious dream and are curious about its spiritual meaning, there’s no better place to start than the Bible.
In this post, we’ll be exploring some of the most famous dreams in the Bible and their meanings. But first, let’s delve deeper into the significance of biblical dreams.
The Meaning of Dreams in the Bible
When interpreting dreams in the Bible, it’s important to remember that in the scriptures, dreams are considered a message from God. Thus, all biblical dreams contain a spiritual message that can either be:
- instructional
- symbolic
As their name suggests, instructional dreams contain a directive or a divine commandment. They are often straightforward and don’t need any interpretation.
Remember when God told Joseph in a dream to take Mary as his wife because the child in her womb is the Son of God? That’s a classic example of an instructional dream.
Symbolic dreams, on the other hand, tend to be prophetic in nature. They communicate warnings and predictions hidden in symbols and other nonliteral elements. Thus, they often need interpretation.
A good example of a symbolic dream is the Pharaoh’s dream. In his dream, God used symbols like cows and grains to represent years of good harvest and an eventual famine.
So, when trying to decipher the biblical meaning of your dream, start by evaluating the message behind it. Then try to see if it’s instructional or symbolic. From there, you will have a much clearer understanding of what God is trying to tell you.
Examples of Dreams in the Bible
All in all, there are 21 recorded dreams in the Bible. Most of them are in the Old Testament, and only six are mentioned in the New Testament.
Here are some of the most famous examples of biblical dreams:
Instructional
- Abimelek’s warning (Genesis 20:3-7)
Abimelek was a king who kidnapped Sarah, the wife of Abraham. But before he could do anything, God warned him in a dream not to touch Sara because she was already married to Abraham. Abimelek heeded His warning and let Sara go.
- Go home, Jacob (Genesis 31:10-13)
When Jacob ran away to avoid his brother’s wrath, he ended up staying in Laban’s house and serving him for 20 years. But one day, God visited him in a dream and told Him that it was time to go home. So he brought his family and all his properties with him and went home.
- Laban’s warning (Genesis 31:24)
When Laban learned that Jacob had fled with his daughters and some of his cattle, he naturally chased after them. But while on the road, God came to him in a dream, warning him not to say or do anything to Jacob. This is generally interpreted to mean that Laban is to “go easy” on him and not hinder his plans.
Seeing how God is protecting Jacob, Laban eventually backs down and lets Jacob go on his way.
- Pilate’s wife’s dream (Matthew 27:19)
While Jesus was on trial, Pontius Pilate’s wife told him to let Jesus go because she dreamt that he was innocent. Unfortunately, Pilate ignored his wife’s plea and convicted Jesus anyway. The rest, as we all know, is history.
Symbolic
- Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28:12-15)
Jacob was on his way home to Haran when he dreamt about a ladder that reached all the way to heaven. Angels were going up and down on it, and on the top stood God. He promised Jacob that his descendants would become as numerous as “the dust of the earth”.
The ladder in this prophetic dream represents a connection between God and man. More specifically, God’s desire to create an intimate connection with mankind. And Jacob’s descendants are the foundation of that connection.
- The stars and grains bowing to Joseph (Genesis 37:1-10)
Before Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh’s dreams and saved Egypt from famine, he already had a dream of the sun, moon, stars, and grains bowing down to him.
Though the dream is full of symbolism, it’s pretty easy to interpret. His father and brothers even asked Joseph if it meant that they were to bow down to him. And as we’ve seen a few years later, they did bow down to him – along with all of Egypt.
- The Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:1-7)
This is probably one of the most famous dreams in the Bible. One day, Egypt’s pharaoh had two dreams.
In his first dream, he was standing by the Nile River when seven fat cows started grazing on the reeds. Then they were followed by seven thin and gaunt cows.
In his second dream, he saw seven heads of healthy grains growing on a single stalk. Then another seven heads of grains sprouted, but this time, they were thin and scorched by the east wind. After that, the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy heads.
If you’re familiar with this bible story, you know what this dream meant. It’s a prophecy about the seven years of abundance that Egypt will go through, followed by seven years of famine.
Why Should We Pay Attention to Our Dreams?
While it might be tempting to dismiss our dreams as products of our subconscious, you might want to take a second look at them. After all, some of them could be God’s instructions or warnings for you.
If you’ll notice in the biblical dreams listed above, the ones who paid attention to their dreams ended up blessed by God.
Abimelek, Jacob, and Laban heeded God’s instruction, and look how it ended for them. Abimelek avoided God’s punishment, Jacob founded the twelve tribes of Israel, and Laban was able to keep his flock as well as his relationship with his daughters.
As for Pontius Pilate, who ignored his wife’s dream, not much is known about what happened to him after Jesus’ death. But we all know that he is now one of the most hated figure in Christianity.
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Lay Cistercians of South Florida, is a community of lay people who seeks to have a deeper connection with God by living a life inspired by the monks and nuns through Lay Monasticism. Learn more about what is a Lay Cistercian on our website. Anyone who aspires to do the same as us, and is a confirmed Catholic is welcome to join us! We meet every second Saturday of the month at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. She works hard to ensure her work uses accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources.
