Biblical Principles of Dream Interpretation: Colors & Numbers
I started this series to address the hidden treasures of dreams. In my previous blogs, I discussed why we dream, the spiritual meaning of forgetting dreams, how to break spiritual marriage, and biblical principles of dream interpretation. I continue in this blog by addressing the biblical principles of dream interpretation. I continue in this blog by discussing how to interpret numbers.
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Now as we are setting the stage for the “nuts and bolts”; basics of dream interpretation, the cardinal rule to keep in mind when properly interpreting dreams is that “interpretations belong to God.” He who gives you the spirit of revelation is also the one who gives you the capacity to interpret that revelation [1].
God is Dynamic yet Consistent
It is important to bear in mind that the context of a dream determines its interpretation. The meaning is not always the same every time. For instance, a seed can mean faith, the Word, the kingdom of God, a future harvest, etc. There are no steadfast formulas. The things of the Spirit are “spiritually discerned,” not naturally discerned.
However God has been consistent in dealing with us. Throughout the bible, anytime God prides himself as the God of the patriarchs, he did so by saying “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. Not even once did God change that order. However it is wise to stay tentative when trying to interpret dreams. The key thing is to be led by God’s spirit and be guided by his word.
Interpreting Colors in Dreams
Understanding the significance and use of colors is one of the key principles to proper interpretation of dreams. Colors can have both a good or positive as well as bad or negative meaning [2]. The use of colors in prophetic dreams calls for a little closer examination. Colors often are highly symbolic in Scripture with specific colors representing specific things, qualities, or characteristics [3].
Amber
—The Glory of God.
As I looked, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth continually, and in the middle of the fire, something like gleaming amber.
I looked, and there was a figure that looked like a human being;[a] below what appeared to be its loins it was fire, and above the loins it was like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming amber [4].
Black
—Sin, Death, and Famine
Now their visage is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as wood [5a].
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come!”[a] I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand [5b].
For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me [5c].
Crimson/Scarlet
—Blood, Atonement, Sacrifice
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool [6a].
And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet [6b]
Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee [6c].
And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window [6d].
Purple
—Kingship, Royalty
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe [7b]
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks [7b].
Red
—Bloodshed, War
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads [8a].
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood [8b].f
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White
—Purity, Light, Righteousness
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Interpreting Numbers in Dreams
Like colors, numbers are highly significant both in the Bible as well as in dreams. So it is important to learn a few basic principles for interpreting numbers. If you internalise and follow the principles, they will help preserve you from interpretation error or extremes [10].
1. The simple numbers of 1-13 often have specific spiritual significance.
2. Multiples of these numbers, or doubling or tripling, carries basically the same meaning, only they intensify the truth.
3. The first use of the number in Scripture generally conveys its spiritual meaning (the law of first use).
4. Consistency of interpretation. God is consistent, and what a number means in Genesis is the same thing that it means through all Scripture to Revelation.
5. The spiritual significance is not always stated, but may be veiled, or hidden, or seen by comparison with other Scriptures.
6. Generally, there are good and evil, true and counterfeit, godly and satanic aspects in numbers
Getting a little more specific, let’s look at the numbers 1-13 and their possible symbolic meanings:
1. One: God, beginning, source (Gen. 1:1).
2. Two: witness, testimony (John 8:17; Matt. 18:16; Deut. 17:6).
3. Three: Godhead, divine completeness (Ezek. 14:14-18; Dan. 3:23-24).
4. Four: earth, creation, winds, seasons (Gen. 2:10; 1 Cor. 15:39).
5. Five: Cross, grace, atonement (Gen. 1:20-23; Lev. 1:5; Eph. 4:11).
6. Six: man, beast, satan (Gen. 1:26-31; 1 Sam. 17:4-7; Num. 35:15).
7. Seven: perfection, completeness (Heb. 6:1-2; Judg. 14; Josh. 6).
8. Eight: new beginning (Gen. 17; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 3:8).
9. Nine: finality, fullness (Matt. 27:45; Gen. 7:1-2; Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:1-12).
10. Ten: law, government (Exod. 34:28).
11. Eleven: this organization, lawlessness, Antichrist (Dan. 7:24; Gen. 32:22).
12. Twelve: defying government, apostolic fullness (Exod. 28:21; Matt. 10:2-5; Lev. 24:5-6).
13. Thirteen: rebellion, backsliding, apostasy (Gen. 14:4; 1 Kings 11:6) [11]..
Thank you for passing by. Watch out for my next blog in this series. Subscribe to my newsletter from below, and get notified of new posts. You may also drop a comment or question in the comment section below.
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References
[1] James W. and Michal Ann Goll, Dream Language: The Prophetic Power of Dreams, Revelations and the Spirit of Wisdom, (Shippensburg: Destiny Image Publishers, 2006), 142
[2] James and Ann, Dream Language: The Prophetic Power of Dreams, Revelations and the Spirit of Wisdom, 143
[3] James W. Goll, The Seer: The Prophetic Power of Visions, Dreams, and Open Heavens, (Shippebsburg: Destiny Image, 2004), 105-106
[4] Ezekiel 1:4, 8:4
[5a] Lam. 4:8
[5b] Rev. 6:5
[5c] Jer. 8:21
[6a] Isa. 1:18
[6b] Lev. 14:52
[6c] Josh. 2:18
[6d] Josh. 2:21
[7a] John 19:2
[7b] Judge. 8:26
[8a] Rev. 6:4; 12:3
[8b] 2 Kings 3:22
[9] Rev. 6:2; 7:9
[10] James and Ann, Dream Language: The Prophetic Power of Dreams, Revelations and the Spirit of Wisdom, 144
[11] James and Ann, Dream Language: The Prophetic Power of Dreams, Revelations and the Spirit of Wisdom, 144
Awura
Very informative ?. Thanks