Biblical Dream Interpretation

An Introduction

“God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it.
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds... God does all these things to a person, twice, even three times— to turn them back from the pit that the light of life may shine on them.”

Job 33:14-15, 29-30

Dream interpretation is nothing new and it’s not New Age! Dreams and interpretations were God’s idea from the beginning. The process and the interpretations must align with Scripture and the character of God.

Foundational Principals

1. Dreams, visions, and symbolic language fill the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Dreams are one of God’s signature ways of communicating significant truths. Jesus taught using parables and dreams are “night parables”. Study the Word of God to better understand the language of heaven.

2. Only GOD knows the interpretation of a dream.
Genesis 40:8 - "And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

3. Biblical dream interpretation is not the same as psychological and mystical models.

If we apply Freudian, Jungian, occultic, neuroscience and other secular methods to dreams recorded and interpreted in the bible, they deliver the wrong interpretation!

Psalm 1:1 - “Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example].”

4. God honors the principle of stewardship.
Honor your dreams. If faithful with little, He'll give you more.

Sources of Dreams

1. God - Job 33:14-15, Genesis 31:11, Daniel 7, Matthew 1:18-24, Matthew 2:12 (Typically full of color.)

2. Soul - Jeremiah 29:8 “...dreams which you caused to be dreamed.” (Color often muted.)

3. Body or Chemical - illness, pregnancy and pharmaceuticals.

4. Enemy / demonic realm - Zechariah 10:2 “the idols speak delusion and tell false dreams.” (Nightmares,

intimidation, no-win situations). Dreams from the enemy - FLIP IT! God would want the opposite.

John 10:10 - “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.”

Processing a Dream

Dreams aren’t meant to be clear. They are enigmas, dark sayings, metaphors. They are meant to entice us, in the best way, to seek God for understanding. Partner with the Holy Spirit - be curious and ask questions. One of the best questions to ask as you process is, “Why this and not that?”

Record Your Dream

  • Date and title your dream

  • Write it in story form

  • Bullet point the main

    aspects

  • Voice record your dream

  • Voice to text

  • Pen and paper

  • Type it out in your device

Focus, Sub-focus, & Details

  • Who or what is the focus? (If

    you take yourself out of the dream and it falls apart, you are the focus or part of it.)

  • Who/what is the sub-focus? (Main elements - people, places)

  • Details: Where, when - past / present / future, animals, vehicles, structures, weather events, objects, prominent colors, numbers

Process Metaphorically

  • Read it out loud

  • Diagram highlighting focus,

    sub-focuses, details

  • Draw in an illustration

  • Process metaphorically not

    literally.

  • Process with another believer

  • Record the interpretation you sense is from God

  • Review your dreams and muse on them with the Lord.

Ask God for dreams! “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.” I Samuel 3:10

Free Download!

Thirty Common Dream Symbols

This free PDF contains some of the most common symbols people experience while dreaming and their possible meanings found in scripture!

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