Dreams and their interpretations have long fascinated humankind. The Bible contains many examples of God sending messages to people through dreams and visions. Interpreting these divine dreams correctly was of utmost importance. Here are some prominent biblical examples of dream interpretation:
Joseph’s Dreams
One of the most well-known dream interpreters in the Bible is Joseph, son of Jacob. As a young man, Joseph had two prophetic dreams which he shared with his family:
- “Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.” (Genesis 37:5-8 ESV)
- “Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.” (Genesis 37:9-11 ESV)
These dreams foretold that Joseph would one day rule over his family. This made his brothers jealous and led them to sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt. But the dreams proved true when Joseph became second-in-command to Pharaoh and his family eventually came to rely on him for food during a great famine.
Pharaoh’s Dreams
Later in Genesis, Pharaoh has two disturbing dreams that his magicians are unable to interpret:
- “Then Pharaoh dreamed another dream. As he was standing by the Nile, seven cows, plump and sleek, came up from the Nile and began grazing among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, sickly, thin, and bony, came up. These thin, sickly cows ate up the seven plump, sleek cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.” (Genesis 41:1,3-4 ESV)
- “Pharaoh slept and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, full and good, grew on one stalk. After them sprouted seven heads, thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads swallowed up the seven full, good heads. Then Pharaoh woke up: it had been a dream.” (Genesis 41:5-7 ESV)
Pharaoh summoned Joseph from prison to interpret. Joseph explained that the dreams warned of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. He advised Pharaoh to store up surplus grain during the good years. This sage advice led Pharaoh to promote Joseph to oversee the storage and distribution of grain when the famine arrived, just as Joseph’s own dreams had predicted.
Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob, son of Isaac, had a powerful dream during his flight from his brother Esau:
“And Jacob dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.” (Genesis 28:12-13 ESV)
When Jacob awoke, he realized he had encountered the gateway between heaven and earth. He named the place Bethel, which means “house of God.” This dream established Jacob’s role as patriarch, reassuring him that God would be with him, protect him, and fulfill the covenant made with Abraham.
Solomon’s Dream
Early in his reign, King Solomon had an instructive dream at Gibeon after sacrificing 1,000 burnt offerings:
“In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.” (1 Kings 3:5-6 ESV)
When given the chance to ask for anything, Solomon requested wisdom to lead God’s people justly. Pleased, God granted his request as well as riches and honor. This dream confirms Solomon as divinely blessed to rule Israel.
Daniel’s Visions
The Book of Daniel records profound dreams and visions bestowed on Daniel, a Jewish exile in Babylon. These revelations helped guide Israel through times of foreign domination. For instance:
- Daniel 2: In a dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great statue made of various metals representing a succession of kingdoms. Only Daniel could interpret that Nebuchadnezzar’s own kingdom, Babylon, would one day fall.
- Daniel 7: Daniel dreamed of four beasts from the sea symbolizing kingdoms that would persecute Israel until the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.
- Daniel 8: A vision of a ram and goat foretold the rise and fall of the Medo-Persian and Greek empires.
By interpreting these messages, Daniel provided leadership during Israel’s exile while proving that only the God of Israel knows the future.
Peter’s Vision
In Acts 10, Peter had a vision that directly led to the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles:
“The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air… And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.” (Acts 10:9-16 ESV)
This vision revealed that Gentiles could now be accepted into the Christian faith. Soon after, Peter preached the Gospel to the Roman centurion Cornelius, welcoming the first Gentile converts.
Paul’s Vision
Saul, a zealous persecutor of Christians, had an encounter with the risen Christ that transformed him into Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles:
“Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:3-5 ESV)
Blinded, Saul was led into Damascus where his sight was restored. This vision marked his conversion and commissioning to carry the Gospel across the Roman Empire, especially to the Gentiles.
John’s Apocalyptic Visions
The Apostle John recorded his series of visions while exiled on Patmos. These prophetic revelations became the Book of Revelation. John saw visions of the risen Christ, heaven, the coming tribulations, the final judgments, and the glories of the New Jerusalem. These mysterious visions have been studied and debated widely throughout church history. They continue to inspire hope in Christ’s eventual triumph and return.
Guidance from God
Across Scripture, dreams often provide direction, prophecy, warnings, and revelations from God. Biblical figures grappled to correctly interpret these divine messages, which frequently came at pivotal junctures. Joseph discerned God’s plan for Israel’s deliverance. Solomon received wisdom to rule justly. Peter realized that salvation was for all nations, not just the Jews. While we may no longer receive new canonical revelation, these stories encore that God can guide His children through dreams.
Understanding dream interpretation in Scripture provides insight into God’s workings in biblical times. More importantly, these accounts affirm that throughout history God speaks to His people through dreams and visions. They remind us to seek His guidance in all things.
