In this series we are looking at biblical tools which can help us with the dream interpretation process. This article addresses one of the most obvious ways that the bible can help us: By providing examples!
If you’re interested in dreams but not sure about the bible … read on anyway, because you might find a few surprises in store!
I have included a list of dreams in the bible and some of the key features that I noticed in each one. You can jump straight to the list if you prefer:
One of the fabulous things about knowing the bible is that you have a wealth of pictures, illustrations and wisdom to hand that can be applied to every life situation. There are positive examples and negative examples. There are people to emulate and people who show us what NOT to do! There are heroes of faith, unlikely champions, and normal people who do extraordinary things. And there are also many people who make silly mistakes but still God works around those weaknesses to bring them through.
Knowing the bible is like a communication tool that God can use to bring to mind the right course of action at any given time. The right example just ‘pops’ into our head when we need to know what to do. This has happened to me so many times that I believe these occurrences are a ‘God’ thing, and as such are invaluable.
So for me, having some good examples in the bible is most certainly an advantage when we come to dream interpretation.
You might be surprised…
There are more than twenty examples of dreams in the bible, each with different characteristics and purposes. Many of these are recorded in the historical books, going back even to the time of Abraham. They provide fascinating insights into the culture and beliefs of the time.
Even if you don’t normally read the bible, I think you will be fascinated by the dreams that are recorded in its pages. Some are well known, but many are not.
If you are a Christian and/or familiar with the bible, you might yet uncover some surprises. When we look through the lens of ‘dreams in the bible’, you might find some stories that you have never really noticed before. I am confident that there are some treats in store for you!
To prove this point, I actually discovered a dream that I was previously unaware of while researching this article, and I thought I knew all the dreams in the bible pretty well! See if you can spot which one that was in the list of dreams below.
A springboard to greater things
In the section below I have listed every mention of an actual dream that I could find in the bible, along with my current understanding and reflections for each one at the time of writing.
Please feel free to use these thoughts as a springboard for your own learning. If any of the examples catch your attention, go to the original reference and pray or ponder over it some more. Learn everything you can. Let God’s Spirit speak to your heart. Maybe you will have some ‘a-ha’ moments with your own dreams.
For each dream, I will give it a title, a brief description, and a suggested type/category. (Of course there are other equally valid ways of categorising them). I will consider whether it was metaphorical language or more literal, the purpose of the dream as I understand it, and the outcome. I will also record anything unusual that I think is worth noting about the dream.
Literal – God spoke clearly and directly to Abimelek
Brief Description
This dream was a conversation between God and Abimelek. Abraham had been pretending that Sarah was his sister. In the dream, God told Abimelek that Sarah was Abraham’s wife, and that it would go badly for him and his household if he touched her. He told him to return Sarah to Abraham.
The purpose
To advise Abimelek of the deception so he could make the right decision about Sarah.
The outcome
Sarah was restored to Abraham. Abraham was saved from his own stupidity. Abimelek and his household were restored and kept safe.
Anything of note
This is the first mention of dreams in the bible. It is remarkable how ‘matter-of-fact’ this account is of God appearing and speaking clearly and directly to this king through a dream.
Literal – The vision and message did not need interpreting
Brief Description
Jacob was on his way to find a wife. In the dream he saw a ladder reaching into heaven with God above it. God spoke and personally blessed him and his descendants with the same promise that Abraham was given (Genesis 12), and prophesied that He would bring Jacob back to this land safely.
The purpose
This is an affirmation for Jacob, so that he could receive his destiny personally from God, not just second-hand from his father. This would have been very timely as he was about to choose a wife to raise a family with!
The outcome
Jacob made a personal commitment to God, with the understanding that God would be with him and protect him.
Anything of note
Jacob seemed to actually see into heaven while he was asleep! Also I love how God personally encouraged Jacob at a key time of his life.
Literal – it was clear and did not need interpreting
Brief Description
Jacob had been living with his uncle in Haran, where Laban had taken advantage of Jacob’s help for many years. Jacob described a dream he once had, where he saw the male speckled goats mating. God then reminded Jacob that He had been blessing him, and told Jacob it was time to go back to the land of his birth.
The purpose
To give Jacob a strategy for breeding abundant healthy speckled herds, and then to prompt Jacob to return to Canaan with God’s blessing and provision.
The outcome
Read the previous chapter (Genesis 30:31-43) to see this God-given strategy outworked – Jacob implemented the plan and it made him extremely prosperous. After this dream Jacob gathered his wives and livestock and left Haran as instructed.
Anything of note
It is possible that what Jacob recounts here is a conglomerate of previous dreams – where God gave him strategy and supernatural knowledge about the breeding strategy, and the latest dream of God telling him it’s time to go home!
Further reading
If you are intrigued by the science behind this supernatural strategy, I think this explanation is good at answersingenesis.org
Laban was angrily chasing Jacob (who had fled after the previous dream). God spoke to him in a dream and warned him not to let his coming interaction with Jacob deteriorate into a bad outcome.
The purpose
To protect Jacob from harm, and prevent Laban from acting in a way he might later regret.
The outcome
Laban heeded the advice of the dream. Although he and Jacob had a heated discussion, they ended with making an agreement not to harm each other.
Anything of note
Young’s Literal Translation says, “Take heed … lest thou speak with Jacob from good unto evil.” God wasn’t telling Laban not to talk to Jacob, just to show restraint when he did so.
Joseph dreamed that his brothers’ sheaves in the field all came and bowed down to his own sheaf.
The purpose
Affirming an aspect of Joseph’s future calling and destiny. (He would need to hold on to this during the difficult years ahead).
The outcome
At the time, it just annoyed his brothers when he told them. But it was clearly fulfilled years later (See Genesis 42).
Anything of note
It is helpful to see that the brothers understood the meaning and gave an interpretation, although they did not accept it at the time. I also find it interesting that the dream used the symbol of grain. It was the issue of grain (which Joseph subsequently had plenty of but his brothers did not) which led them to come and bow down to him in due time.
Joseph dreamed that the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed down to him.
The purpose
To confirm the previous dream relating to his calling and destiny. This dream also added his parents into the equation (represented by the sun and moon)!
The outcome
This was fulfilled as per the previous dream.
Anything of note
It seems unwise for Joseph to have told his brothers about the dream, but this in itself was one of the factors leading to its fulfilment!
He had this dream while in prison, and Joseph interpreted it. In the dream he saw a vine with three branches, bearing grapes. He took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharoah’s cup.
The purpose
This was prophetic about his coming reinstatement as cupbearer. It also served the purpose of highlighting Joseph’s dream interpretation accuracy, thus bringing him to Pharoah’s attention later on.
The outcome
The dream was fulfilled exactly as per Joseph’s interpretation.
Anything of note
This dream is helpful to us when learning about interpretation, as both the dream and the interpretation are documented.
This man was also in prison, and Joseph interpreted the dream. In the dream he saw three baskets of bread. The birds were eating food out of the top basket on his head.
The purpose
This was prophetic about his coming death. It also served the purpose of being a second confirmation of Joseph’s dream interpretation accuracy.
The outcome
The chief baker was hanged three days later, and the dream was fulfilled exactly as per Joseph’s interpretation.
Anything of note
The dream appears on the surface to be very similar to that of the cupbearer, but on closer examination the meaning was actually the opposite.
He dreamed that seven healthy fat cows came out of the Nile and grazed in the grass, followed by seven gaunt cows which ate up the fat cows.
The purpose
To warn Pharaoh (as leader of Egypt) of a severe famine that was coming and to advise him of the timing so he could prepare.
The outcome
This was fulfilled exactly as per Joseph’s interpretation. Due to this dream the whole of Egypt and surrounding lands were saved from starvation during this famine.
Anything of note
We are subsequently given the interpretation and fulfillment, so this is a good dream to help us learn about dream symbols.
Gideon’s people (the Israelites) were preparing to attack the Midianites against all odds. God told Gideon to go into the enemy camp, where he overheard a man telling this dream: A loaf of barley tumbled into the camp of Midian and flattened the tent.
The purpose
This dream was mainly for Gideon’s benefit to encourage him, but it also served the purpose of striking fear into the Midianite camp.
The outcome
Gideon was emboldened and carried out the attack plan, and they gained the victory just as the dream had foretold. The dream both prophesied and facilitated this outcome.
Anything of note
The man who had the dream took it seriously and recognised that it was about Gideon. The Midianites had been oppressing the Israelites and stealing their grain, causing them to become poor farmers – thus the symbol of the barley loaf!
God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment so he could rule Israel justly. God was pleased and said he would grant his request, but also give him riches and honour.
The purpose
To affirm Solomon’s position as king early on in his reign, and to equip him for the role.
The outcome
Solomon was given everything that was promised in this dream (as evidenced in the rest of 1 Kings 3).
Anything of note
This conversation happened in a dream, but it was recorded as being a real encounter – God imparted wisdom to Solomon that he didn’t have before.
To be decided (see note at the end of this article).
Symbolic or Literal
Symbolic
Brief Description
In these chapters we find what appear to be confusing snippets of the bride-to-be recounting her dreams and nightmares, interspersed with real conversations and memories. I find it hard to distinguish which is which at first glance.
The purpose
I think this dream gives insight into what’s going on in the heart of the bride-to-be; it reveals the depth of love that she has for her betrothed, and her longing for the consummation of their marriage. It also reveals some of her fears.
The outcome
From the rest of the book, it appears that at some point they did get married!
Anything of note
The NASB gives this passage the title ‘The Bride’s Troubled Dream’. I have included my thoughts here, but I feel there is more to it that I have not yet discovered.
Further reading
I enjoyed this explanation of the dream aspect at poemanalysis.com
He dreamed of a great statue with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. A stone struck the statue and became a mountain that filled the earth.
The purpose
This was a prophetic dream relating to world history, and foretold the kingdoms that would rule over the earth from that time until the coming of Jesus and the kingdom of God.
The outcome
The immediate effect was that the king fell on his face in awe, and promoted Daniel to ruler over the whole province. (Later it went to his head and he made a gold statue!) We can also see from history that this dream was accurate and the events came to pass.
Anything of note
This is a helpful dream because the interpretation is given, and we can see from hindsight how it was fulfilled. Also, Nebuchadnezzar did not actually tell anyone the dream, but God revealed it to Daniel in a night vision.
Symbolic – but becomes more literal towards the end
Brief Description
He dreamed of a great and beautiful tree that gave shelter to many creatures, which was then cut down to a stump. It then seemed to be a man, who was given a decree about a period of time living like an animal.
The purpose
To warn Nebuchadnezzar that if he did not change he would go through a period of humbling where he would eat grass like the cattle for seven years until he acknowledged God as Lord of all.
The outcome
This came to pass exactly as per Daniel’s interpretation.
Anything of note
The fantastic thing about this account is that it written in the words/testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar himself. What an awesome document to have!
Symbolic and literal – the ‘beasts’ are symbolic, but then it becomes more of a vision within a dream, and Daniel actually appears to ‘see’ into the spiritual realm.
Brief Description
Daniel dreamed of four beasts which arose from the sea in succession, followed by various horns. In the midst of this he saw a throne, the Ancient of Days, books being opened, and ‘One like a Son of Man’. After that, someone in the dream gave him the interpretation.
The purpose
This dream gave a prophetic timeline between that time period and the coming of Jesus, and forewarned them of what to expect. This would have encouraged the Jews, and also the followers of Jesus during persecution, knowing it was all part of a bigger plan.
The outcome
The dream and its interpretation were fulfilled in history so accurately that some people suggest it must have been written afterwards. This dream (and Daniel 8) help bring clarity and additional details to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue dream.
Anything of note
This is a good example of writing dreams down. Also, in Daniel 7:1 he refers to these ‘night visions’ as being part of his dreams, making me wonder if some of his other visions (e.g. chapter 8) might also have been received while he was asleep.
Mary had become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, so Joseph wanted to call off their forthcoming marriage. An angel visited him in a dream to let him know that Mary was telling the truth and he should marry her.
The purpose
To affirm Joseph’s calling to marry Mary and be the earthly father to Jesus.
The outcome
He did marry her and he followed the angel’s instructions. He was able to protect and support Mary in raising Jesus, and take on the responsibility that was his destiny.
Anything of note
The angel called Joseph ‘son of David’ and gave him the responsibility of naming the child Jesus. How wonderful for Joseph to have this personal confirmation that raising the Messiah was his destiny too, not just Mary’s!
Herod had asked the Magi to tell him where the ‘Messiah’ was if they found him. All we know is that after finding Jesus, they were warned through a dream not to return to Herod.
The purpose
To stop them inadvertently putting the baby Jesus in danger.
The outcome
They went home a different way, as per the message of the dream.
Anything of note
We don’t know what the dream was, or how they understood the message, just that they took it seriously and appreciated the importance of dreams.
An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and informed him that Herod was going to try and kill the baby. The angel gave him clear direction to urgently flee Bethlehem and take the family to Egypt.
The purpose
To enable Joseph to save Mary and Jesus from being killed by Herod.
The outcome
He was obedient and took the family to Egypt. It was so urgent that they actually left in the middle of the night!
Anything of note
This is the second recorded time that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. This seems to be the primary way that God guided Joseph.
An angel appeared in a dream and told Joseph that it was safe to take his family back to Israel, then he received further warnings and specific direction to go to Galilee.
The purpose
To enable Joseph to continue to keep the family safe, and to let him know when it was safe to return to Israel..
The outcome
Joseph was obedient, they were able to return from Egypt, and the family was kept safe from harm.
Anything of note
There are actually two dreams here, but we only know the details of the first one. I love how closely God guided Joseph through those difficult years.
Jesus had come before Pilate for judgment. The night before, Pilate’s wife had a troubled dream, convincing her that Jesus was innocent. She sent Pilate a message to tell him.
The purpose
It’s interesting to wonder the purpose of this dream, as it didn’t seem to change the outcome – maybe just to give witness to Jesus’ innocence for the record?
The outcome
Pilate did try to provide a way out for Jesus, but in the end chose to accommodate the people’s wishes for the sake of peace, rather than pursuing justice.
Anything of note
The substance of her dream is unknown, we just know that it disturbed her, and she was convinced of the meaning.
Unknown – whether it was an actual person calling to him in a vision, or a symbolic picture of the call to go to Macedonia (modern day Greece).
Brief Description
Paul was on a missionary journey and at a point of decision about where to go next (at the port of Troas). In the night he ‘saw’ a man calling from Macedonia. He understood this to be guidance for him to go to there.
The purpose
To direct Paul in his journey, to a place where people were hungry for the gospel.
The outcome
Paul was obedient and went to Macedonia. Many people responded to the gospel there, and he subsequently planted churches in places such as Thessalonica and Corinth.
Anything of note
This episode is translated as a ‘night vision’ rather than a dream (the difference between them is not always clear!). I have included it because it was something that Paul had during the night. The Message bible calls it a dream – I liked their translation of the whole verse.
Further reading
An unexpected finding
God in His usual style has caught me out at my own game! I started off thinking I knew all the dreams in the bible well enough, and I encouraged you – the readers, to expect the unexpected. What I didn’t predict was that I would be surprised myself and discover a dream I didn’t know existed! Did you guess which one it was from my comments?
I used the search tool at BibleGateway.com to search for ‘dreams’. It threw up a title that the New American Standard Bible (NASB) had given to a passage – ‘The Bride’s Troubled Dream’ in Song of Solomon 3. I have never previously realised that some of the events described there were in a dream. This raised lots of questions in my mind:
Was it a soul dream (the woman dreaming her own desires)?
Was it a self-condition dream (God giving her insight into her own heart)?
Was it a fear dream?
Or was God speaking to her symbolically about her relationship with Him?
What do you think? I haven’t come to a conclusion yet – these are questions to mull over and meditate on with God’s help. I am definitely going to revisit it again soon when I have more time.
This illustrates nicely my original point: The bible holds more treasures than we sometimes think!
Did you notice anything that you have never seen before?
Which dreams are you going to revisit?
Final thoughts…
When I started compiling this list I half wished I hadn’t, because there were so many dreams to get through. But then, as always, I got drawn in and thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me read each account properly rather than just skimming through them. I might do a follow-up article soon, reflecting on what I discovered in the process.
Dreams come across as an accepted part of everyday life in biblical times – something that we seem to have lost in our modern western culture. I think there is much for us to learn from their examples – if we take the time! I encourage you to pursue a few of the above-mentioned dreams further, and see what you find.
If you’d like to know more about the biblical model of dream interpretation, please do get in touch! You can also check out my Facebook group where you can meet other Christians who are learning about dreams.
Hi, my name is Jenny. I live in the Southeast of England. I am a wife, a mother of three grown-up boys and a lifetime follower of Jesus Christ. I mostly write about understanding dreams and visions, hearing God’s voice, and knowing God personally.
View all posts by Jenny Needham
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