Have you ever woke from a bad dream where you were doing evil things? During the dream stage, do you remember thinking, how did I get here? When you wake from the dream you are relieved but startled. You begin to remember the moments of the dream. Disgust fills your mind as you reason within yourself, how could I be capable of anything as evil as this?
Dreams In The Bible
Dreams in the Bible were warnings signs and prophetic events. Some were good and some were bad. We can think of the baker and the cupbearer for the king in the time of Joseph. One of the dreams were good for the dreamer and one of the dreams were bad for the dreamer. Job had something interesting to say about dreams.
For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men... Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction. Job 33:14-16
Confusion of Dreams
More often than not dreams are confusing, much like life. If you can remember them you may think to yourself, what does it mean? There seems to be 5 main purposes to dreams in the Bible.
- Revelation — To reveal God’s will or future events.
- Warning — To prevent danger or sin.
- Guidance — Direct people in their decisions.
- Encouragement or Instruction — Comfort or inform individuals.
- Prophetic Insight — Provide visions of coming judgment or blessing.
Now there are a lot of people that can claim to interpret dreams but, do not believe them. They can open a door that may be hard to close. Pray about the dream to God, let Him reveal it's meaning to you. Be humble, do not jump to conclusions. It may be from God or it may be from something else.
🔹 How to Discern Dreams Biblically
The Bible warns us not all dreams are from God:
I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed... Jeremiah 23:25–28
✅ Tests for Dreams:
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Does it align with Scripture?
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Does it glorify God or man?
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Is it consistent with God’s character?
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Has it come true (if prophetic)?
🔹 Do Dreams Still Matter Today?
Yes. According to Joel 2:28 (quoted again in Acts 2:17):
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions…”
This suggests that #dreams will continue to be a part of God’s interaction with His people, especially in the last days.
🔹 Famous Dreams in the Bible
🧔 Old Testament
| Person | Dream Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob | Saw a ladder reaching heaven with angels ascending and descending | Genesis 28:10–22 |
| Joseph (Son of Jacob) | Dreamed his family would bow to him; interpreted dreams in Egypt | Genesis 37, 40–41 |
| Pharaoh | Saw fat and skinny cows; interpreted by Joseph to warn of famine | Genesis 41 |
| Nebuchadnezzar | Dreamed of a statue representing kingdoms; interpreted by Daniel | Daniel 2 |
| Daniel | Had dreams and visions of beasts and future empires | Daniel 7 |
| Person | Dream Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph (Husband of Mary) | Warned to take Mary as wife; flee to Egypt with Jesus | Matthew 1–2 |
| Wise Men | Warned in a dream not to return to Herod | Matthew 2:12 |
| Pilate’s Wife | Had a troubling dream about Jesus’ innocence | Matthew 27:19 |
Dreams in the Bible are often sacred, symbolic, and strategic. They can serve as a spiritual communication channel from God—but always need to be tested by the Word and discerned carefully. Do not seek a medium or a psychic, seek God when trying to understand your dream. Research the Scriptures, pray fervently, observe God's Command, Maintain the Ministry of Yeshua. There are many different meanings, deep meanings, to get to those meanings trust God alone!
Shalom Shalom