Common Dream Symbols and Their Biblical Meanings
A quick reference guide to the most frequently occurring dream symbols — animals, numbers, colors, directions, and objects — with their biblical meanings.
Dream symbols are the vocabulary of God's nighttime communication. Just as Jesus used parables — familiar, everyday objects to convey spiritual truths — God uses symbols in dreams to speak to our hearts. Below are the most common categories of dream symbols with their biblical meanings.
Click any symbol to see its full dictionary entry with Scripture references. Our complete dictionary contains 4,071 symbols.
Animals in Dreams
Animals are among the most common dream symbols. In biblical dream interpretation, they fall into three categories based on their environment:
Land Animals
Represent actions, attitudes, and their consequences
Birds
Represent thoughts, mental influences, and spiritual attacks
Aquatic Creatures
Represent hidden spiritual nature and concealed things
| Symbol | Biblical Meanings |
|---|---|
| Snake | Deception, temptation, Satan, wisdom, healing |
| Lion | Christ, royalty, strength, courage, the devil |
| Dog | Loyalty, friendship, unclean spirits, Gentiles |
| Cat | Independence, witchcraft, self-reliance |
| Spider | Trap, lies, fragility, patience |
| Fish | Souls of men, Christianity, provision |
| Horse | Power, ministry, warfare, conquest |
| Bear | Strength, danger, Russia, evil force |
| Dove | Holy Spirit, peace, purity, gentleness |
| Eagle | Prophetic vision, divine strength, renewal |
Objects and Places in Dreams
Buildings represent spiritual condition. Vehicles represent goals and missions. Objects often represent tools for spiritual growth or warfare.
| Symbol | Biblical Meanings |
|---|---|
| House | Personal life, family, spiritual condition |
| Car | Personal ministry, purpose, life direction |
| Door | Opportunity, Christ, transition, access |
| Ring | Covenant, authority, eternity, marriage |
| Sword | Word of God, spiritual weapon, authority |
| Crown | Royalty, victory, authority, reward |
| Boat | Church, ministry, journey, mission |
| Bridge | Transition, connection, faith, passage |
| Bed | Rest, intimacy, covenant, sickness |
| Garden | Heart, fruitfulness, Eden, cultivation |
Numbers in Dreams
Numbers in the Bible carry deep symbolic meaning. When a specific number appears in your dream — on a clock, an address, a count of items — it may carry a divine message.
| Number | Biblical Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unity, beginning, God |
| 2 | Witness, division, double portion |
| 3 | Divine, Trinity, resurrection |
| 4 | Creation, the world, universal |
| 5 | Grace, divine favor |
| 6 | Man, flesh, imperfection |
| 7 | Divine perfection, completion |
| 8 | New beginnings |
| 9 | Fruit of the Spirit, finality |
| 10 | Law, responsibility, divine order |
| 11 | Disorder, judgment |
| 12 | Divine government, authority |
| 40 | Trial, testing, a generation |
Colors in Dreams
Colors in dreams often carry symbolic weight. The same color can have both positive and negative meanings depending on the context of the dream.
| Color | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| White | Purity, righteousness, holiness | — |
| Black | Mystery, hidden things | Sin, death, evil |
| Red | Blood of Christ, sacrifice, love | War, anger, danger |
| Blue | Heavenly, revelation, Holy Spirit | Depression |
| Green | Life, growth, prosperity | Envy, immaturity |
| Gold/Yellow | Glory of God, divine, faith | Cowardice, sickness |
| Purple | Royalty, authority, wealth | — |
| Orange | Fire, passion, deliverance | — |
Directions in Dreams
When you move, look, or face a specific direction in your dream, it may carry biblical significance.
| Direction | Biblical Meaning |
|---|---|
| North | Throne of God, judgment, spiritual inheritance |
| South | Egypt, the world, trial, blessing |
| East | Glory of God, new beginnings, sunrise |
| West | The sea, nations, end, rest |
| Up | Spiritual elevation, heaven, promotion |
| Down | Spiritual decline, humility, depth |
| Left | Weakness, flesh, judgment |
| Right | Strength, spirit, favor, blessing |
Quality Indicators in Dreams
The condition and appearance of symbols in your dream carry meaning. Pay attention to whether things appear clean or dirty, new or broken, bright or dark.
Positive Indicators
- Beauty, cleanliness, light
- Completeness, good colors
- Precious metals, good condition
- New, fresh, growing
Negative Indicators
- Deterioration, dirtiness, darkness
- Incompleteness, bad colors
- Poor condition, broken, rusted
- Old, decaying, withering
Explore the Full Dictionary
This page covers the most common symbols, but our full dictionary contains over 4,071 dream symbols with detailed biblical meanings and Scripture references.
Continue Reading
Continue reading
Ready to interpret your dream biblically?
Try our dream interpreter