Gift of Interpretation of Dreams?

Is there anything called the gift of interpretation of dreams in the Bible? I’ve heard people say, “I believe I have the gift of interpretation of dreams.”

Actually, there is no such thing mentioned in the Bible as the gift of interpreting dreams. Sorry to disappoint you!

People coined the phrase “gift of interpretation of dreams” without a single portion of Scripture to support it.

Yes, the Bible speaks of dreams and of interpretation, but it never describes a spiritual gift called the interpretation of dreams.

The closest we come to anything resembling such a gift is in Daniel 1:17, where it says that Daniel had understanding in visions and dreams.

But even that is not described as a spiritual gift. Nowhere in the Bible is dream interpretation listed among the gifts of the Spirit.

However, starting from Daniel might be a big leap for most of my readers, so I’ll take a few steps backward.

First, let’s talk about the different sources of dreams. Then, just as importantly, we’ll explore the different types of dreams we find in the Bible.

This is mightily important, because many people treat every dream the same. They throw all their dreams into one bag, shake it up, and try to conjure meaning out of it.

Others put too much meaning into every dream they have, even above Scripture, while some ignore every dream they have and see nothing meaningful in it.

To be clear, not every dream is divine, and not every dream is meaningless. Understanding the source and type of a dream is the first step toward knowing how to respond, whether to reject it, pray through it, or simply say, “Be it unto me, Lord, according to Your word.”

But not every dream in Scripture came with a built-in explanation. Some were clear, others were symbolic, and a few were so layered that even the dreamers were troubled by them.

Pharaoh had a dream that disturbed him deeply, but he couldn’t make sense of it. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that terrified him, yet he forgot the details.

In both cases, God raised up men, Joseph and Daniel, who didn’t just interpret dreams; it was said of both, “a man in whom is the Spirit of God.” Pharaoh said this of Joseph (Genesis 41:38), and the queen said it of Daniel (Daniel 5:11).

They were described as men of light, understanding, and wisdom, qualities the world desperately needs but cannot produce apart from God.

These men didn’t guess or speculate. They didn’t read a single line of the law and the prophets to understand its interpretation.

It came to them supernaturally. Joseph said plainly, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8). Daniel said, “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” (Daniel 2:28).

What gifts operated in their lives to dig in such dark sentences? This is one of those write-ups you want to read every part of.

Reflection question: What might God be showing me about my spiritual maturity through the way I handle dreams and revelations?

SELAH: When the Spirit of God fills a man, even kings notice.