Three Basic Questions about Dreaming 7
“Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much
over him today in a dream” (Matt. 27).
The Bible presents two detailed accounts of the practice of dream inter-
pretation. In the first, Joseph interprets the dreams of the baker and the
butler (Gen. 40) and of the Pharaoh (Gen. 41). Although Joseph explains
in clear, rational terms what the particular images of the dreams mean
(e.g., the seven fat and lean cows mean seven years of plentiful harvests
followed by seven years of famine), he insists that dream interpretations
“belong to God.” Joseph says to Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give
Pharaoh a favorable answer.” In the second account, Daniel carefully
interprets the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1–4). Like Joseph,
Daniel explains the symbolic meaning of each image in Nebuchadnez-
zar’s dreams (e.g., a great tree symbolizes the king himself) and says that
his interpretive skills are due entirely to God’s inspiration and guidance.
A significant aspect of dreams in the Bible is their direct relevance to
the broader community. The dreams address the concerns not just of the
individual dreamer, but also of the community of God’s faithful. When
God appears to Solomon in a dream and asks what gift he would like,
Solomon says, “Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to gov-
ern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able
to govern this thy great people?” (1 Kings 3). Likewise, the dreams of
Abram, Abimelech, the Midianite soldier, Jacob, Samuel, Joseph, and Paul
all express God’s care and concern for the welfare of the community.
However, many passages in the Bible also express deep skepticism
toward dreams. Dreams are portrayed in Numbers 12 as a potentially
deceptive “dark speech,” in contrast to the clear revelations of God’s pres-
ence enjoyed by a prophet like Moses. In the book of Ecclesiastes, it is
said, “For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with
many words” (Eccl. 5). Similarly, the book of Deuteronomy warns people
not to believe those “dreamers of dreams” who promote the idolatrous
worship of other gods (Deut. 13). The prophet Jeremiah rails against those
who falsely claim to know God’s will through their dreams (Jer. 23).
There is no naïve, simple-minded acceptance in the Bible of all dreams as
divine revelations. While some dreams may indeed disclose God’s will,
other dreams are dismissed as vain illusions—“on awaking you despise
their phantoms” (Ps. 73).
The Philosophy of Aristotle
The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BCE), a student of Plato’s,
analyzed dreams in two short treatises, On Dreams and On Prophesying by
