What Does the Bible Say About Dreams?
From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals that God has always spoken to His people through dreams and visions.
“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.”
Joel 2:28 (KJV)
Dreams Are a Form of Divine Communication
The Bible is clear: dreams are one of God's ways of communicating with humanity. From the very first book of Scripture, we see God using dreams to reveal His plans, deliver warnings, and offer guidance to those who seek Him.
The Bible teaches us that, while God is not limited (Matthew 19:26) in how He chooses to reach us, He communicates primarily through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16), as well as through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), prayer (Jeremiah 33:3), preaching (1 Corinthians 1:21), godly counsel (Proverbs 11:14), the church (Colossians 3:16), circumstances (Acts 16:6-7), nature (Romans 1:20), internal peace (Colossians 3:15), conscience (Romans 2:15), common sense (Luke 12:57), spiritual burdens (Nehemiah 2:12), trials (Hebrews 12:5-11), worship (2 Chronicles 20:14-15), audible signs (1 Samuel 3:4), angels (Hebrews 1:14), and miracles (Exodus 3:2-4), with dreams and visions (Joel 2:28) being just one of these eighteen biblical methods.
In Job 33:14-17, Elihu declares: “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, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.” This passage reveals that God uses dreams specifically to bypass our waking resistance and speak directly to our spirits.
The New Testament confirms this continues for believers today. In Acts 2:17, Peter quotes Joel's prophecy on the day of Pentecost, declaring that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit and His people will dream dreams and see visions.
Key Scripture Passages About Dreams
God Speaks Through Dreams
Numbers 12:6 — “If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.”
Dreams Seal Instruction
Job 33:15-16 — God opens our ears and seals His instruction through dreams to withdraw us from our purposes and hide pride from us.
Last Days Prophecy
Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 — God promises an outpouring of dreams and visions in the last days for all believers, not just prophets.
Divine Guidance in Dreams
Matthew 2:12 — The wise men were “warned of God in a dream” not to return to Herod. Matthew 2:13 — Joseph was told in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.
God Gives Interpretation
Genesis 40:8 — Joseph declared: “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Daniel 2:28 — Daniel said: “There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets.”
Dreams in the Bible: By the Numbers
Research into the recorded biblical dreams reveals important patterns that help us understand how God communicates today:
21+
Dreams recorded in Scripture
60%
Were metaphorical, not literal
Both
Old & New Testament contain dreams
Parabolic
Dreams use the same symbolic language as Jesus' parables
This means that most biblical dreams used symbols — just as Jesus used parables to convey spiritual truths. When you dream of water, fire, or a snake, God is likely speaking metaphorically, not literally.
Three Sources of Dreams According to Scripture
Not every dream comes from God. Biblical teaching identifies three sources of dreams:
1. Divine Dreams — Messages from God
The majority of dreams are divine communications. God uses them to reveal secrets (Daniel 2:28), give warnings (Matthew 2:12), offer direction (Genesis 31:24), and edify faith (Genesis 28:12).
2. Soul Dreams — From Our Own Thoughts
Ecclesiastes 5:3 tells us: “A dream cometh through the multitude of business.” Some dreams arise from our own preoccupations, anxieties, and daily concerns rather than from divine revelation.
3. Nightmares — Spiritual Signals
Nightmares are not meaningless. They often signal unresolved spiritual issues — unforgiveness, unrepented sin, or areas where the enemy has been given ground.Job 4:13-14 describes terrifying visions of the night that can serve as urgent spiritual wake-up calls.
Start Exploring Biblical Dream Symbols
Our dictionary contains over 4,000 dream symbols with biblical meanings and Scripture references. Hover over any verse to read the actual Bible text (KJV).
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