Bible Thesaurus: Dream

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Thesaurus

Dream (82 Occurrences)
... 19). To Joseph "the Lord appeared in a dream," and gave him instructions
regarding the infant Jesus (Matthew 1:20; 2:12, 13, 19). ...
/d/dream.htm - 47k

Dreamed (20 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Dream. ... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). Genesis 37:5 Joseph dreamed
a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. ...
/d/dreamed.htm - 12k

Interpret (27 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:8 They said to him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who
can interpret it." Joseph said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? ...
/i/interpret.htm - 15k

Dreamt (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) of Dream. ... Dreamt (6 Occurrences). Genesis 37:6 And
he said to them, Hear, I pray you, this dream, which I have dreamt: (DBY). ...
/d/dreamt.htm - 8k

Recounteth (13 Occurrences)
... Genesis 37:9 And he dreameth yet another dream, and recounteth it to his brethren,
and saith, 'Lo, I have dreamed a dream again, and lo, the sun and the moon ...
/r/recounteth.htm - 10k

Belteshaz'zar (8 Occurrences)
... Daniel 2:26 The king hath answered and said to Daniel, whose name 'is' Belteshazzar,
'Art thou able to cause me to know the dream that I have seen, and its ...
/b/belteshaz'zar.htm - 9k

Belteshazzar (8 Occurrences)
... Daniel 2:26 The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able
to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation? ...
/b/belteshazzar.htm - 10k

Dreams (34 Occurrences)
... Your old men will dream dreams. ... (BBE). Genesis 40:8 Then they said to him, We
have had a dream, and no one is able to give us the sense. ...
/d/dreams.htm - 17k

Butler (9 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night,
each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the ...
/b/butler.htm - 11k

Cupbearer (10 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:5 They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man
according to the interpretation of his dream, the cupbearer and the baker of ...
/c/cupbearer.htm - 12k

Bible Concordance

Dream (82 Occurrences)

Matthew 1:20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 2:12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn't return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 2:17 'It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a man's wife."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 20:6 God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn't allow you to touch her.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 28:12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:10 It happened during mating season that I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:11 The angel of God said to me in the dream,'Jacob,' and I said,'Here I am.'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:24 God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Take heed to yourself that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 37:5 Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 37:6 He said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 37:8 His brothers said to him, "Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have dominion over us?" They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 37:9 He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 37:10 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? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to you to the earth?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 40:5 They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 40:8 They said to him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it." Joseph said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 40:9 The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 40:12 Then Joseph said, This is the sense of your dream: the three branches are three days;
(BBE)

Genesis 40:16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, "I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 40:18 Then Joseph said, This is the sense of your dream: the three baskets are three days;
(BBE)

Genesis 41:1 It happened at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and behold, he stood by the river.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:5 He slept and dreamed a second time: and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:8 It happened in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt's magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:11 We dreamed a dream in one night, I and he. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:12 There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. To each man according to his dream he interpreted.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:17 Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I stood on the brink of the river:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:22 I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, full and good:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:24 And the seven thin heads made a meal of the seven good heads; and I put this dream before the wise men, but not one of them was able to give me the sense of it.
(BBE)

Genesis 41:25 Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one. What God is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:26 The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dream is one.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:32 The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 12:6 He said, "Hear now my words. If there is a prophet among you, I Yahweh will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 13:1 If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder,
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 13:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 13:5 That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk in. So you shall put away the evil from the midst of you.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 7:13 When Gideon had come, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow; and he said, "Behold, I dreamed a dream; and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 7:15 It was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and its interpretation, that he worshiped; and he returned into the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise; for Yahweh has delivered the army of Midian into your hand!"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 28:6 When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 3:5 In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I shall give you."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 3:15 Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 20:8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 33:15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 73:20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 90:5 You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass.
(See RSV)

Psalms 126:1 A Song of Ascents. When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 5:3 For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 29:7 The multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, will be like a dream, a vision of the night.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they can't bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
(Root in WEB ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 23:25 I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 23:28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? says Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 29:8 For thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Don't let your prophets who are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:3 The king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live forever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:5 The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if you don't make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:7 They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:9 But if you don't make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:16 And Daniel went in and made a request to the king to give him time and he would make clear the sense of his dream to the king.
(BBE NIV)

Daniel 2:23 I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king's matter.
(See NIV)

Daniel 2:24 For this reason Daniel went to Arioch, to whom the king had given orders for the destruction of the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, Do not put to death the wise men of Babylon: take me in before the king and I will make clear to him the sense of the dream.
(BBE NIV)

Daniel 2:25 Then Arioch quickly took Daniel in before the king, and said to him, Here is a man from among the prisoners of Judah, who will make clear to the king the sense of the dream.
(BBE NIV)

Daniel 2:26 The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:30 As for me, this secret is not made clear to me because of any wisdom which I have more than any living man, but in order that the sense of the dream may be made clear to the king, and that you may have knowledge of the thoughts of your heart.
(BBE)

Daniel 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:45 Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall happen hereafter: and the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 4:6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 4:7 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, saying,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 4:9 Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 4:18 This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, Belteshazzar, don't let the dream, or the interpretation, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, the dream be to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joel 2:28 "It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Dream

The orientals, and in particular the Jews, greatly regarded dreams, and applied for their interpretation to those who undertook to explain them. We see the antiquity of this custom in the history of Pharaoh's butler and baker, Genesis 40:1-23; and Pharaoh himself and Nebuchadnezzar are also instances. God expressly forbade his people to observe dreams, and to consult explainers of them. He condemned to death all who pretended to have prophetic dreams, even though what they foretold came to pass, if they had any tendency to promote idolatry, De 13:1-3. But they were not forbidden, when they thought they had a significant dream, to address the prophets of the Lord, or the high priest in his ephod, to have it explained. The Lord frequently made known his will in dreams, and enabled persons to explain them, Genesis 20:3-7 28:12-15 1 Samuel 28:6 Daniel 2:1-49 Joel 2:28 Matthew 1:20 Acts 27:22. Supernatural dreams are distinguished from visions, in that the former occurred during sleep, and the latter when the person was awake. God spoke to Abimelech in a dream, but to Abraham by vision. In both cases he left on the mind an assurance of the certainty of whatever he revealed. Both are now superseded by the Bible, our sure and sufficient guide through earth to heaven.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob (Genesis 28:12; 31:10), Laban (31:24), Joseph (37:9-11), Gideon (Judges 7), and Solomon (1 Kings 3:5). Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech (Genesis 20:3-7), Pharaoh's chief butler and baker (40:5), Pharaoh (41:1-8), the Midianites (Judges 7:13), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1; 4:10, 18), the wise men from the east (Matthew 2:12), and Pilate's wife (27:19).

To Joseph "the Lord appeared in a dream," and gave him instructions regarding the infant Jesus (Matthew 1:20; 2:12, 13, 19). In a vision of the night a "man of Macedonia" stood before Paul and said, "Come over into Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9; see also 18:9; 27:23).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The thoughts, or series of thoughts, or imaginary transactions, which occupy the mind during sleep; a sleeping vision.

2. (n.) A visionary scheme; a wild conceit; an idle fancy; a vagary; a revery; -- in this sense, applied to an imaginary or anticipated state of happiness; as, a dream of bliss; the dream of his youth.

3. (n.) To have ideas or images in the mind while in the state of sleep; to experience sleeping visions; -- often with of; as, to dream of a battle, or of an absent friend.

4. (n.) To let the mind run on in idle revery or vagary; to anticipate vaguely as a coming and happy reality; to have a visionary notion or idea; to imagine.

5. (v. t.) To have a dream of; to see, or have a vision of, in sleep, or in idle fancy; -- often followed by an objective clause.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

DREAM; DREAMER

drem, drem'-er (chalom, chelem; onar): In all time dreams and their interpretation have been the occasion of much curious and speculative inquiry. Because of the mystery by which they have been enshrouded, and growing out of a natural curiosity to know the future, much significance has been attached to them by people especially of the lower stages of culture. Even the cultured are not without a superstitious awe and dread of dreams, attaching to them different interpretations according to local color and custom.

Naturally enough, as with all other normal and natural phenomena for which men could assign no scientific and rational explanation, they would be looked upon with a certain degree of superstitious fear. "Dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy, Which is as thin of substance as the air And more inconstant than the wind." -Shakespeare.

1. Physiological and Psychological Ground:

While a fully satisfactory theory of dreams has not yet been established and while it is hardly possible that there will ever be a satisfactory explanation for each individual dream, yet through the rapid discoveries of physiological psychology in the recent decade or more, much new light is thrown on the subject. With the contribution modern psychology has made to our knowledge of the association of ideas through the connected relation of certain cortical centers and areas, it has come to be pretty well established that the excitation of certain bodily organs or surfaces will stimulate certain brain areas. Conversely the stimulation of certain cortical areas will produce a response in certain bodily regions over which these centers or areas preside.

Connecting thought processes are therefore dependent upon the proper correlation of ideas through what are known physiologically as the association centers. If then it comes to pass that, as occurs in dreams, only fragmentary ideas or loosely connected trains of thought occur, and if, as frequently happens, there is momentary connection, but little connection with normal waking experience, it will easily be seen that the excitation of certain centers will awaken certain trains of thought which are but poorly related to the balance of one's thinking processes. Much is being said about the dissociation of ideas and the disturbance of personality of which dreams are one of several forms. Others are hallucinations, trances, visions, etc.

Dreams are abnormal and sometimes pathological. Sleep is a normal experience. Perfect and natural sleep should be without dreams of any conscious occurrence. Perhaps psychologically there can be no such thing as perfectly dreamless sleep. Such a condition would probably be death itself. Nature doubtless has her silent vigils, keeping watch in the chambers of the soul during the deepest sleep. The only difference is that they do not come to the threshold of consciousness. Thus, dreams are to the sleeping state what visions and hallucinations are to the waking state, and like them have their ground in a distorted image-making function. While the source of the materials and the excitant may not be the same in each case, yet functionally they are the same.

The stimuli of dreams may be of two kinds. First, they may be physical and objective, or they may be due to suggestions and the association of ideas. They may be due to some physical disorder, such as imperfect digestion or circulation, improper ventilation or heating, or an uncomfortable position. Since by the very nature of the case dreams do not occur in a conscious state, the real cause cannot easily be discoverable and then only after the subject is entirely awakened through the effects of it.

They may also be due to the association of ideas. Suggestion plays a large part. The vividness and recency of a conscious impression during the waking state may be thrown up from the subconscious region during the sleeping hours. The usual distorted aspect of dreams is doubtless due to the uncoupling of groups of ideas through the uncoupling of the cortical association areas, some of them being less susceptible than others to the existing stimulus.

The materials of dreams need not be recent; they may have been furnished by the conscious processes a long time before, but are brought to the threshold only by means of some train of ideas during a semi-conscious state. It is interesting to note that while time and space seem quite real in dreams, the amount covered in a single dream may occupy but a moment of time for the dreamer.

2. History of Belief in Dreams:

Dreams have always played an important part in the literature and religion of all peoples. They have furnished mythologies; they have been the sources of systems of necromancy; they have become both the source and the explanation of otherwise inexplicable acts of Providence. Growing out of them we have a theory of nightmares and demonology. They have become the working material of the prophet both Biblical and pagan. Medieval civilization is not without its lasting effects of dreams, and modern civilization still clings with something of reverence to the unsolved mystery of certain dreams. While we have almost emerged from anything like a slavish adherence to a superstitious belief in dreams, we must still admit the possibility of the profound significance of dreams in the impressions they make upon the subject.

3. Dreams in the Old Testament:

The Bible, contrary to a notion perhaps too commonly held, attaches relatively little religious significance to dreams. Occasionally, however, reference is made to communications from God through dreams (Genesis 20:6 1 Kings 3:5 Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:12, 13, 19, 22). It recognizes their human relations more frequently. In the Old Testament literature, dreams play but little part except in the books of Genesis and Daniel, in which there are abundant references to them. For their moral bearings the most important ones perhaps are those referred to in Genesis 37:5-10. An uncritical attitude will give to them a lifeless and mechanical interpretation. A sympathetic and rational explanation gives them beauty, naturalness and significance. Joseph was the youngest and most beloved son of Jacob. He was just in the prime of adolescence, the very period of day dreaming. He was perhaps inordinately ambitious. This was doubtless heightened by the attentions of a doting father. The most natural dream would be that suggested by his usual waking state, which was one of ambition and perhaps unhealthy rivalry (see ASTRONOMY, sec. II, 6). The source of Pharaoh's dreams and his solicitude are likewise capable of interpretation on somewhat natural grounds (Genesis 41:7-32). The significance of them was given by Joseph.

Another illustration of the psychological exposition preceding is the dream of Solomon (1 Kings 3:5, 11-15). In this narrative, after Solomon had done what pleased Yahweh and had offered a most humble prayer on an occasion which to him was a great crisis and at the same time a moment of great ecstasy in his life, he doubtless experiences a feeling of sweet peace in consequence of it. His sleep would naturally be somewhat disturbed by the excitement of the day. The dream was suggested by the associations and naturally enough was the approving voice of Yahweh.

Dreaming and the prophetic function seem to have been closely associated (Deuteronomy 13:1, 3, 1). Whether from a coldly mechanical and superstitious, a miraculous, or a perfectly natural point of view, this relation is consistent. The prophet must be a seer, a man of visions and ideals. As such he would be subject, as in his waking states, so in his sleeping states, to extraordinary experiences. The remarkable dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, who stands out as an exceptional example, afford an illustration of what may be styled a disturbed personality (Daniel 2:3-45; Daniel 4:5-19). The effort made by the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, according to the best skill of the Orientals, was unavailing. Daniel, whether by extraordinary intellectual insight or by Divine communication, was able by his interpretation and its moral to set before the king a powerful lesson.

The New Testament gives still less place and importance to dreams than the Old Testament. There are only six references and one citation to dreams or dreamers. It is significant that all these references are by Matthew, and still more significant that Jesus nowhere refers to dreams, evidently attaching little if any importance to them. The references in Matthew are confined entirely to warnings and announcements (Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:12, 13, 19, 22; Matthew 27:19). Once a citation (Acts 2:17) is used for illustrative purposes (compare Joel 2:28). See also AUGURY, IV, 5; DIVINATION, VI, 1, l(b); MAGIC; REVELATION.

Whether God communicates directly or indirectly by dreams is still unsettled. With our present knowledge of spirit communication it would not seem unreasonable to assume that He may reveal Himself directly; and yet on the other hand the safest and perhaps surest explanation for our own day and experience is that in dream states the mind is more impressionable and responsive to natural causes through which God speaks and operates. That dreams have been and are valuable means of shaping men's thoughts and careers cannot be denied, and as such, have played an important part in the social and moral life of individuals and of society. A valuable modern illustration of this is the dream of Adoniram Judson Gordon (see How Christ Came to Church), through the influence of which his entire religious life and that of his church were completely transformed.

LITERATURE.

Judd, Psychology; Cutten, The Psychological Phenomena of Christianity; Ladd, Philosophy of Knowledge; Baldwin, Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology; Ellis, The World of Dreams (Houghton, Mifflin Co.).

Walter G. Clippinger

JOSEPH'S DREAM

See ASTRONOMY, sec. II, 6; JOSEPH.

Greek

3677. onar -- a dream, in a dream
... a dream, in a dream. Part of Speech: Noun, Indeclinable, Other Type Transliteration:
onar Phonetic Spelling: (on'-ar) Short Definition: a dream Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3677.htm - 6k

1797. enupniazomai -- to dream
... to dream. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: enupniazomai Phonetic Spelling:
(en-oop-nee-ad'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I dream Definition: I dream (see ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1797.htm - 7k

1798. enupnion -- a dream
... a dream. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: enupnion Phonetic Spelling:
(en-oop'-nee-on) Short Definition: a dream, vision Definition: a dream, vision ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1798.htm - 7k

Topical Bible Verses

Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 2:13
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be you there until I bring you word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Topicalbible.org

Daniel 2:28-30
But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these;
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 2:19-22
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Topicalbible.org

Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Topicalbible.org

Daniel 7:1-28
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Topicalbible.org

Daniel 2:4
Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
Topicalbible.org

Daniel 2:16-23
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
Topicalbible.org

Acts 16:9
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
Topicalbible.org

Acts 10:10-16
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
Topicalbible.org

Strong's Hebrew

2493. chelem -- a dream
... 2492b, 2493. chelem. 2494 . a dream. Transliteration: chelem Phonetic
Spelling: (khay'-lem) Short Definition: dream. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2493.htm - 6k

2472. chalom -- a dream
... 2471, 2472. chalom. 2473 . a dream. Transliteration: chalom Phonetic
Spelling: (khal-ome') Short Definition: dream. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2472.htm - 6k

2492b. chalam -- to dream
... 2492a, 2492b. chalam. 2493 . to dream. Transliteration: chalam Short
Definition: had. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to dream ...
/hebrew/2492b.htm - 5k

1957. hazah -- to dream, rave
... to dream, rave. Transliteration: hazah Phonetic Spelling: (haw-zaw') Short Definition:
dreamers. ... root Definition to dream, rave NASB Word Usage dreamers (1). ...
/hebrew/1957.htm - 6k

2492. chalam -- to be healthy or strong
... to be healthy or strong. Transliteration: chalam Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-lam')
Short Definition: dream. cause to dreamer, be in good liking, recover ...
/hebrew/2492.htm - 5k

2370. chazah -- see, behold
... 10), see (2), seen (4), usually (1). behold, have a dream, see, be wont.
(Aramaic) or chazah (Aramaic) {khaz-aw'}; corresponding ...
/hebrew/2370.htm - 6k

2494. Chelem -- "strength," an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Helem (1). Helem. From chalam; a dream; Chelem, an Israelite --
Helem. Compare Chelday. see HEBREW chalam. see HEBREW Chelday. 2493, 2494. ...
/hebrew/2494.htm - 6k

6622. pathar -- to interpret
... interpretation,. A primitive root; to open up, ie (figuratively) interpret (a dream) --
interpret(-ation, -er). 6621, 6622. pathar. 6623 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6622.htm - 6k

7667. sheber -- a breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
... Or sheber {shay'-ber}; from shabar; a fracture, figuratively, ruin; specifically,
a solution (of a dream) -- affliction, breach, breaking, broken(-footed ...
/hebrew/7667.htm - 6k

6623. pithron -- interpretation
... interpretation. Or pithron {pith-rone'}; from pathar; interpretation (of a dream) --
interpretation. see HEBREW pathar. 6622, 6623. pithron. 6624 . ...
/hebrew/6623.htm - 6k

Library

The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's
The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's. <. The Fulfilment of
a Dream of Pastor Hsi's A. Mildred Cable. Produced by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/

Dream and Reality
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO END DREAM AND REALITY. 'The ... Word. That the gods come
down in the likeness of men is the dream of heathenism. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/dream and reality.htm

A Terrible Dream
... Chapter 10. Retirement in Paddington; Wesley Slandered; Premonitions; A
Dream A Terrible Dream. Thursday, June 3.--- I received a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/wesley/the journal of john wesley/a terrible dream.htm

A Remarkable Dream
... Chapter 16. Windsor Park; Wesley as Art Critic; Glasgow and Perth; At 70,
Wesley Preaches to 30,000 People A Remarkable Dream. Tuesday ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/wesley/the journal of john wesley/a remarkable dream.htm

The Dream of the Tree Cut Down
... STORIES VI THE DREAM OF THE TREE CUT DOWN. ... I saw a dream which made me afraid; and
the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/vi the dream of the.htm

Dream Concerning the Founding of Constantinople.
... Chapter III Writings. 5. Dream concerning the Founding of Constantinople.
"As Constantine was sleeping in this city [Byzantium], he ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/5 dream concerning the founding.htm

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
... In the Lands of the Heathen Chapter 40 Nebuchadnezzar's Dream. [This chapter
is based on Daniel 2..] Soon after Daniel and his companions ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 40 nebuchadnezzars dream.htm

A Dream of the Future. February 3.
... A Dream of the Future. February 3. God grant that the day may come when in
front of the dwellings of the poor we may see real fountains ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /a dream of the future.htm

My Dream Message
... TALK TWENTY-FIVE. MY DREAM MESSAGE. ... If they have some peculiar dream, they try to
interpret it or to get somebody else to do so. Now, God is reasonable. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk twenty-five my dream message.htm

Human Life a Dream
... Third Series Sermon 121 Human Life a Dream. "Even like as a dream when one awaketh;
so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city." Ps.73:20. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 121 human life a.htm

Subtopics

Dream

Dream of Abimelech, , Concerning Sarah

Dream of Daniel, Concerning the Four Beasts

Dream of Eliphaz, of a Spirit Speaking to Him

Dream of Jacob, Concerning the Ladder

Dream of Joseph, Concerning Mary's Innocence

Dream of Joseph, Concerning the Sheaves

Dream of Laban, Concerning Jacob

Dream of Midianite Concerning the Cake of Barley

Dream of Pilate's Wife, Concerning Jesus

Dream of Solomon, Concerning his Choice of Wisdom