Bible Dictionary
Dream
Dreams are experiences during sleep that God sometimes used to communicate warnings, guidance, or prophecy. Scripture records such dreams in both the Old and New Testaments.
Definition
A dream is an experience during sleep. In biblical history, God sometimes used dreams to give warnings, instructions, guidance, or prophetic information to individuals such as Jacob, Joseph, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Joseph the husband of Mary.
Biblical Usage
Dreams conveyed divine messages in several Old Testament narratives and in the early history surrounding Jesus’ birth. Joseph received instructions about the infant Jesus in dreams, and the wise men were warned in a dream. A night vision also directed Paul toward Macedonia.
Historical Background
The supplied material presents dreams as one means by which God communicated His will in particular biblical circumstances. It distinguishes such experiences from the recorded night vision given to Paul.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
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 (Gen. 28:12; 31:10), Laban (31:24), Joseph (37:9-11), Gideon (Judg. 7), and Solomon (1 Kings 3:5). Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech (Gen. 20:3-7), Pharaoh’s chief butler and baker (40:5), Pharaoh (41:1-8), the Midianites (Judg. 7:13), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1; 4:10, 18), the wise men from the east (Matt. 2:12), and Pilate’s wife (27:19). To Joseph “the Lord appeared in a dream,” and gave him instructions regarding the infant Jesus (Matt. 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).