Dream

A series of images or thoughts experienced in one's mind while asleep. A means by which a divine message may be conveyed while the recipient sleeps. God may communicate directly in the dream, or interpretation may be necessary.

Direct communication through dreams

Genesis 31:24 See also Genesis 20:3, Genesis 20:6; 1 Samuel 28:6, 1 Samuel 28:15; 1 Kings 3:5, 1 Kings 3:15; Job 33:14–15; Matthew 1:20, Matthew 2:12–13, Matthew 2:19–20, Matthew 2:22

But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

Dreams involving unusual images

Genesis 28:12–15, Genesis 31:10–13, Genesis 37:5–7, Genesis 37:9, Genesis 40:9–11, Genesis 40:16–17, Genesis 41:1–7; Judges 7:13; Daniel 2:31–35, Daniel 4:10–17

God is the source of interpretation of such dreams

Daniel 2:26–28 See also Genesis 40:8, Genesis 41:15–16, Genesis 41:25, Genesis 41:28; Daniel 4:24

The king responded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in the dream, as well as its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:

Interpretation of unusual images

Genesis 40:12–13, Genesis 40:18–19, Genesis 41:26–31; Judges 7:14–15; Jeremiah 23:28, Jeremiah 31:23–26; Daniel 2:36–45, Daniel 4:19–26

Revelation to prophets through dreams

Numbers 12:6; Joel 2:28 See also Daniel 1:17, Daniel 2:19–23; Acts 2:17

He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.

And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Dreams and false prophets

Deuteronomy 13:1–3 See also Deuteronomy 13:5; Jeremiah 23:25–27, Jeremiah 23:32, Jeremiah 27:9, Jeremiah 29:8–9; Zechariah 10:2

If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Ordinary dreams

Isaiah 29:7–8 Not every dream is a vehicle for divine communication. Most are part of the natural process of sleep. See also Job 7:13–15; Psalm 73:20; Ecclesiastes 5:3, Ecclesiastes 5:7; Isaiah 56:10

All the many nations going out to battle against Ariel— even all who war against her, laying siege and attacking her— will be like a dream, like a vision in the night, as when a hungry man dreams he is eating, then awakens still hungry; as when a thirsty man dreams he is drinking, then awakens faint and parched. So will it be for all the many nations who go to battle against Mount Zion.