Dream

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).

DREAM. From a very early period dreams have been observed with superstitious regard. God was pleased to make use of them to reveal his purposes or requirements to individuals, and he also gave power to interpret them. Gen 20:3-6; Gen 28:12-14; 1 Sam 28:6; Dan 2; Joel 2:28. And if any person dreamed a dream which was peculiarly striking and significant, he was permitted to go to the high priest in a particular way and see if it had any special import. But the observance of ordinary dreams and the consulting of those who pretend to skill in their interpretation are repeatedly forbidden. Deut 13:15; Deut 18:9-14. The words dreams and visions are sometimes used indiscriminately. Gen 46:2; Num 12:6; Job 20:8; Job 33:14-15; Dan 2:28; Zech 7:1, though elsewhere they would seem to be distinguished. Joel 2:28. In the vision the subject may be awake even though it take place at night. 2 Kgs 6:17; Acts 18:9; Acts 23:11; Acts 27:23. Paul's vision, 2 Cor 12:1-2, Ex 6:4, was an ecstasy. To his mind heaven was open, yet so real was the vision that he could not tell whether he were in the body or out of it. Some commentators place this vision while Paul lay on the ground at Lystra as if dead from the stoning. Sometimes miraculous revelations of God's will are called visions. Luke 1:22; 1 Sam 3:15. See Vision, Trance. The power of interpreting dreams was, of course, a supernatural gift, so far as the dreams had reference to future events; for these are necessarily unknown, except to the supreme Disposer of them. Gen 40:5, 1 Kgs 15:8; Gen 41:16. Since the fuller revelation of God's will has been made to us in the gospel, all confidence in dreams as indicative of future events is presumptuous and delusive, and all pretension to the power of interpreting them must be regarded as in the highest degree impious and absurd.

DREAM. From a very early period dreams have been observed with superstitious regard. God was pleased to make use of them to reveal his purposes or requirements to individuals, and he also gave power to interpret them. Gen 20:3-6; Gen 28:12-14; 1 Sam 28:6; Dan 2; Joel 2:28. And if any person dreamed a dream which was peculiarly striking and significant, he was permitted to go to the high priest in a particular way and see if it had any special import. But the observance of ordinary dreams and the consulting of those who pretend to skill in their interpretation are repeatedly forbidden. Deut 13:15; Deut 18:9-14. The words dreams and visions are sometimes used indiscriminately. Gen 46:2; Num 12:6; Job 20:8; Job 33:14-15; Dan 2:28; Zech 7:1, though elsewhere they would seem to be distinguished. Joel 2:28. In the vision the subject may be awake even though it take place at night. 2 Kgs 6:17; Acts 18:9; Acts 23:11; Acts 27:23. Paul's vision, 2 Cor 12:1-2, Ex 6:4, was an ecstasy. To his mind heaven was open, yet so real was the vision that he could not tell whether he were in the body or out of it. Some commentators place this vision while Paul lay on the ground at Lystra as if dead from the stoning. Sometimes miraculous revelations of God's will are called visions. Luke 1:22; 1 Sam 3:15. See Vision, Trance. The power of interpreting dreams was, of course, a supernatural gift, so far as the dreams had reference to future events; for these are necessarily unknown, except to the supreme Disposer of them. Gen 40:5, 1 Kgs 15:8; Gen 41:16. Since the fuller revelation of God's will has been made to us in the gospel, all confidence in dreams as indicative of future events is presumptuous and delusive, and all pretension to the power of interpreting them must be regarded as in the highest degree impious and absurd.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The thoughts, or series of thoughts, or imaginary transactions, which occupy the mind during sleep; a sleeping vision. Dreams are but interludes which fancy makes. Dryden. I had a dream which was not all a dream. Byron.

2. 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. There sober thought pursued the amusing theme, Till Fancy colored it and formed a dream. Pope. It is not them a mere dream, but a very real aim which they propose. J. C. Shairp.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. 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.

2. 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. Here may we sit and dream Over the heavenly theme. Keble. They dream on in a constant course of reading, but not digesting. Locke.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To have a dream of; to see, or have a vision of, in sleep, or in idle fancy; -- often followed by an objective clause. Your old men shall dream dreams. Acts ii. 17. At length in sleep their bodies they compose, And dreamt the future fight. Dryden. And still they dream that they shall still succeed. Cowper. To dream away, out, through, etc., to pass in revery or inaction; to spend in idle vagaries; as, to dream away an hour; to dream through life. " Why does Antony dream out his hours" Dryden.