Do you frequently have dreams? Have you wondered what the symbols mean in your dreams? This is part three of a dream series (Part 1 and Part 2) I’ve created to help you maneuver through dream symbology and discover the meaning of dreams with the partnership of Holy Spirit. I believe there are many in the body of Christ that have prophetic dreams, but no knowledge of how to interpret those dreams. God wants to open up your spiritual senses so that you can receive the communication of dreams. A critical key to dream interpretation that is sometimes overlooked is the discipline of meditating on the Word of God.

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. (Psalm 63:6)

I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds. (Psalm 77:12)

I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. (Psalm 119:15)

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands. (Psalm 143:5)

As believers, we must take the time to gain understanding of the principles and metaphors of Scripture. Like the psalmist, meditate on them day and night. This will create a biblical foundation for you as you explore dreams with Holy Spirit. Biblical metaphors can have layers of meaning, and we want to wisely discern those layers as sons and daughters of God. This is not done with a slave mind-set. Slaves have no rights and no access to the King. Understanding revelation is all about being a son or a daughter. It is about kingship. It is about approachability and access to the throne.

Some Basics of Dream Interpretation

The first principle to keep in mind when interpreting dreams is to reduce the dream to its simplest form. With too much detail you can easily miss the interpretation. That is like not seeing the forest for the trees. Keep it simple. Otherwise, you risk obscuring the meaning. Take the dream to its simplest form and build on that. Next, remember that context determines interpretation. The meaning is not always the same every time. For example, an anchor could mean Jesus Christ, security, hope, brakes, or to slow down. There are no steadfast formulas. The things of the Spirit are “spiritually discerned,” not naturally discerned.

Third, determine whether a series of repetitious dreams is involved. Did you have two, three, or four dreams, or are they all different aspects of the same issue? More than one dream in the same night is often just a different look or version of the same message. Similar to Joseph in the Book of Genesis had two dreams, each with different symbols, but both dreams had the same meaning. Whether it was sheaves of wheat in a field or the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens, both dreams meant that the members of Joseph’s family would one day bow down to him. Joseph’s dreams related to his destiny.

If you don’t understand that repetitive dreams typically relate to the same subject matter, you will end up looking at them as entirely isolated dreams that have no connection to each other. In doing so you risk misinterpreting all of them. If you experience repetitive dreams, look for a common thread of meaning. Analyze your dream by asking a series of basic questions. First, are you observing? Where are you in the dream? If you are in the observation mode, then the dream probably is not primarily about you. It could be about someone or somewhere else. God does nothing without a witness observing issues. So, if you are an observer in your dream, then you are that witness. This might even mean that you are going to be a watchman or an intercessor in the situation.

Second, are you participating? Are you actively participating in the dream but still not the main figure? Then the dream still is not primarily about you, even though its meaning may touch you more directly than when you are merely an observer. Third, are you the focus? Is everyone watching you? If you are the focus of the dream, then one of the first things you need to do is try to identify where you are. That will help you frame out the dream so that all the pieces can be put into place. Fourth, what are the objects, thoughts, and emotions in the dream? Are there words in the dream? What impressions and thoughts are you left with when you remember or are awakened by the dream? What is the intensity of the dream–the main emotion? You will know intuitively what the most important issues are.

Animals

Dreams about animals can have many different interpretations. If an animal is found in the Bible, look at the context of the verse used to derive the meaning. Typically, when it comes to animals in the Bible, go to the first place the animal is mentioned. That is always a good place to start. You can also search basic information about the animal online to see what attributes and abilities it has. This will help you with the greater meaning behind the animals in your dreams.

As a general rule, domestic animals may represent Christ, believers, or Israel; while wild animals may represent gentile nations, unbelievers, people who return to the ways of the world, or demonic powers.

Examples of Animals:

• Birds— A bird is a warm-blooded winged vertebrate with feathers covering its body. Pay attention to which type of bird was in your dream as they can have different meanings.
• Fish— A fish is one of the several types of gill-bearing cold-blooded aquatic animals. Fish are referred to as souls in the Bible.
• Jaguar— A jaguar is a large wildcat similar to a leopard but larger and stockier. In a dream, a jaguar could represent being observant and watchful. Jaguars could symbolize great fierceness. Jaguars dwell in mountains, so a dream of a jaguar could represent high spiritual places or spiritual dominion.
• Leech— A leech is a parasitic bloodsucking worm often living in freshwater. In the past, leeches were used for surgical reasons to remove impurities in the blood and treat diseases.
• Wolf— A wolf is a large predatory canine that is mostly active at night, living and hunting in packs and related to the dog.

Wild Animals

As a child growing up, I had reoccurring dreams about wild animals. In the beginning, I had dreams about wolves. These wolves would show up suddenly and I would have to find a place to hide so that I could escape being eaten. Sometimes, I would turn back to run into the house, and the walls would disappear. Wolves are a predatory animal in nature and represented Satan in the dream. He was trying to intimidate me, making me believe that there was no safe place to hide.

Then, the dreams switched to bears. Bears represent a powerful spiritual force, or a spiritual enemy. These bears would suddenly show up on a path, and since they could climb trees, I knew the only way to escape them was to fly. So, I would soar into the sky, and the bears couldn’t reach me. The Bible tells us that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). When we become believers, we are seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-7) in heavenly places above all principality and power and might and dominion (Ephesians 1:15-23). The Lord was showing me that I can come above my spiritual enemies with Christ.

The last set of dreams included lions. Lions can represent a fierce enemy. The dreams involved me walking up a hill, and a lion would suddenly appear at the top of the hill. There was never anywhere for me to hide. So, each time, the lion would get to me, and I could feel its teeth sinking into my arm or leg when I woke up. These dreams went on for years. Until, finally, I put my hand into the lion’s mouth and tore his jaws apart. After that, the dreams about wild animals stopped.

What I discerned from the combination of these dreams, is that the Lord was giving me insight on spiritual warfare that relates to my destiny. The enemy will always try to intimidate me, and make me believe that I cannot escape his attacks. The Lord was showing me that man-made ways were not going to offer me safety, and that I had to rise above the enemy and take my seat next to Christ. We have a higher vantage point with Christ, and that can help us rise to victory over our spiritual enemies. With the last series of dreams of lions, the Lord was showing me that in His strength (like Samson), I can destroy the devourer. All of these dreams were pointing to my destiny as a mighty warrior and intercessor in God’s Kingdom. God has given me and will continue to give me strategies to overcome Satan and his human puppets. Always pay attention to reoccurring dreams. Sometimes they will warn you of a strategy Satan is using against you, and then you can ask the Holy Spirit for insight on how to overcome.

Colors

Understanding the significance and use of colors is one of the key principles to proper interpretation. Colors can have a positive meaning as well as a negative meaning. To determine whether it is positive or negative, you must look at the greater context of the dream. Here are some examples of color meanings:

1. Amber— When dreaming of the color amber the Bible describes this color as being fire, which represents God’s glory, the brilliance of His presence and His judgments. This dream may also be indicating that the dreamer or someone in the dream is receiving a visitation from the Lord (Ezekiel 1:4; 8:2; Isaiah 66:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)
   • Positive: This color in a dream could represent the fire of God revealing Himself in a more intimate and personal way. The bible also illustrates amber as being the color of fire which consumes or devours but will not burn. (For our God is a consuming fire.)
   • Negative: The color amber could represent God’s fury, judgments and rebukes toward one’s life or ministry because of sinful nature and wicked heart. (To render His anger with fury and His rebukes with flames of fire.)
2. Black— When dreaming of the color black the Bible describes this color as being the presence and secret place of the Father. It also shows this color as being ‘comely’ as in lovely or beautiful. (Lamentations 4:8; Revelation 6:5; Jeremiah 8:21; Song of Songs 1:5)
   • Positive: This color could symbolize in a dream the presence of the Father (and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was) or it could also represent a darkened beauty (I am black but comely). To dream of black hair this could symbolize being healed or cleansed in one’s personal life or ministry.
   • Negative: Dreaming of the color black could represent a lack of substance or spiritual nourishment as in famine. (Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.) The bible also illustrates this color as being the judgments of God because of one’s sin or deceitful lifestyle. This color may also denote being ominous or evil towards God or an individual in one’s life or ministry. To see sackcloth in a dream could represent a spiritual or natural mourning. 
3. Blue— When dreaming of the color blue the Bible describes this color as being one of the royal and heavenly colors. It also illustrates in the Bible that the Lord told Israel to put on the fringes of their clothing a blue cord to remember His commandments. The Bible also refers the color blue as being God’s Spirit or word. (Numbers 15:38; Esther 8:15; Proverbs 20:30)
   • Positive: This color could symbolize having a heavenly visitation from the Lord and the dreamer may receive a divine revelation through spiritual gifts. Dreaming of the color blue could represent being chastened by the Father, for the blueness of a wound cleanses evil. It could in one context mean water, to cleanse or to drink freely by the spirit. (If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink.)
   • Negative: To dream of the color blue may also mean to be corrupted or dishonest through vanity and having idols before God. Blue could also mean being depressed (as in singing the blues’).
4. Brown— When dreaming of the color brown the Bible describes this as being dead, without spirit (as dead as grass is brown). (1 Peter 1:24; Psalm 37:2)
   • Positive: This color could represent being born again in the spirit realm. It could represent repenting of all sins and iniquities.
   • Negative: This color could represent in a dream being without God’s guidance or spirit. Brown also could represent being dead spiritually.
5. Crimson/Scarlet— When dreaming of the color crimson the Bible describes this color as being the shed of Christ blood for the remission of sins, (for the blood is the life). The Bible also illustrates this color as fine materials. (Isaiah 1:18; Leviticus 14:52; Joshua 2:18, 21; 1 John 1:7;  Revelation 1:5;  Romans 5:9)
   • Positive: This color could represent in a dream a covenant being restored (as in Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you). Crimson could also represent a covering or sacrifice (as in, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy). It could also symbolize being cleansed from sin (though your sin be red like crimson, they shall be white as wool).
   • Negative: Dreaming of the color crimson could represent shedding of blood which could symbolize spiritual warfare.
6. Gray— When dreaming of the color gray the Bible describes this as dignity and honor. (Proverbs 16:31; Hosea 7:9)
   • Positive: This color could mean in a dream if the hair is gray, being wise or having wisdom in a certain area or situation in one’s natural or spiritual life.
   • Negative: Dreaming of the color gray could symbolize weakness or lack of direction in one’s life. This color may also denote the dreamer cannot decide upon a path to take, as in unclear or hazy. Gray could also represent a hidden deception or being deceived by a false doctrine.
7. Green— When dreaming of the color green the Bible describes this color as growth and maturity. The Bible also illustrates this color as being vegetation for man and beast. (Psalm 23:2;  Hosea 14:8; Job 15:31-32; Isaiah 15:6)
   • Positive: This color could represent in a dream a natural or spiritual rest in the Lord or a renewal in one’s life (As in, He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He restores my soul).
   • Negative: Dreaming of the color green could represent a weakness in one’s natural or spiritual life. It could also denote immaturity or inexperience in one’s life or a certain situation. This color in a dream could also symbolize being envious of one’s possession or one’s lifestyle. This could be causing your relationship with the Lord to wither.
8. Orange— When dreaming about the color orange the Bible describes this color as being of fire. (Proverbs 6:27; Mathew 5:22)
   • Positive: This color could represent in a dream the dreamer being purified or perfected under fire or persecution.
   • Negative: Dreaming of the color orange could represent being in great jeopardy or danger. This color could mean in a dream an evil force is trying to harm one’s spiritual or natural life.
9. Purple— When dreaming of the color purple the Bible describes this color as being of royalty and kingship. It is also illustrates in the Bible purple used for the color of royal robes and the garments of wealth. (John 19:2; Judges 8:26; Acts 16: 14)
   • Positive: This color could represent in a dream a high ranking in one’s spiritual or natural life. Purple can also denote a zeal or compassion for the word of God.
   • Negative: Dreaming of the color purple could represent the corruption of riches and royalty but in mockery (as in, and they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head). This color could also represent in a dream to beware of scribes, which could mean people who lead others to destruction.
10. Red— When dreaming of the color red the Bible describes this color as being natural objects such as Jacob’s stew and Judah’s eyes. It also illustrates in the Bible the color red as the color of blood which often symbolizes life. Also bloodshed and war (Proverbs 23:29 Isaiah 63:2; Revelation 6:4; 12:3; Genesis 25:30; Nahum 2:3; 2 Kings 3:22)
    • Positive: This color could represent in a dream overcoming or being victorious in one’s spiritual or natural life. It could also mean being covered or washed in the blood of Jesus.
    • Negative: Dreaming of the color red could symbolize a struggle or battle in one’s spiritual or natural life. This color may also represent in a dream vengeance towards the dreamer or the person that is in the dream. Red could also denote being tempted by sin or becoming ill because of disobedience.
11. White— When dreaming of the color white the Bible describes this color as being refined, righteous and heavenly. The Bible also illustrates the Lord’s throne being of white. ( John 4:35; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 6:2; 7:9)
    • Positive: This color could represent being cleansed, innocent without spot or blemish (as in I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow). White could also represent truth and victory in one’s natural or spiritual life. Having a dream with white in it could represent a rebirth or a fresh view on life. 
    • Negative: There is no negative to white!
12. Yellow— When dreaming of the color yellow the Bible describes this color as having a spirit of wisdom and the Glory of God. (Psalm 68:13; Proverbs 19:14)
    • Positive: This color could represent a gift from or of God (as in a prudent wife is a gift from the Lord). Yellow could also symbolize in a dream a marriage covenant, family or to be honored or having honor in one’s natural or spiritual life. It could also represent your understanding for the word of God and your strong desire to seek wisdom.
    • Negative: Dreaming of the color yellow could represent a deceitful gift or some sort of illness if your hair is yellow (as in a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a dry scalp, [even] a leprosy upon the head or beard). This color could also denote a cowardliness or fear in one’s spiritual or natural life.

Neon Green

There was a time when I had a dream about something, and the color in the dream was a bright neon green. The Lord was revealing a trap the enemy had set for me. Neon green is usually the color of something evil or wicked in movies. It’s the color of the poisonous apple in the movie Snow White, the color of the light that Aurora followed to the spinning needle in Sleeping Beauty, and the color the sea witch turned when she was creating a spell to turn Ariel into a human. I was able to avoid the trap because of this dream, so if you ever have a dream with this color, investigate it with Holy Spirit. Deception is not always obvious, and the Lord wants to reveal what is hidden so that we don’t get tricked by the enemy.

I hope this was helpful to you, and would love to hear what the Lord has been showing you in your dreams in the comments below. Stay tuned for another post of dreams. The next post will be about smells and songs. Be sure to subscribe so that you are alerted when a new post is published.

RESOURCES

Goll, James W. Dream Language: The Prophetic Power of Dreams, Revelations, and the Spirit of Wisdom. Destiny Image, 2006.

Taylor , David E. “Interpreting Animals You See in Your Dreams.” Evangelist David E. Taylor , 2020, https://joshuamediaministries.org/animals-dream-dictionary-2/.

Thompson, Adam F., and Adrian Beale. “Songs, Names, and Numbers.” God’s Prophetic Symbolism in Everyday Life: The Divinity Code to Hearing God’s Voice through Natural Events and Divine Occurrences, Destiny Image Publishers, Shippensburg, PA, 2017, pp. 45–56.