The 100 Best Dream Symbols

If you are hungry for the prophetic, than these 100 Dream and Vision Symbols will be an amazing resource for you! Each of these have been taken from The Way of Dreams and Visions Symbol DIctionary by Apostle Colette Toach, get your own copy today by clicking the button below!

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Ship

A vehicle for your ministry, or a representation of your business.

POSITIVE

Ships are a picture of both training and releasing God’s people to do the work. Here is one of my favorite passages on the subject:

"Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish will come first, To bring your sons from afar, Their silver and their gold with them, To the name of the Lord your God, And to the Holy One of Israel, Because He has glorified you" - Isaiah 60:9

I have often seen our ministry as an aircraft carrier, especially relating to training the fivefold ministry.

Just as an aircraft carrier goes out into the waters and from there releases the fighter jets, so also does a training ministry send out those that qualify.

A sailing ship: In the Old Testament most ships were transport and trade ships. One of their primary functions was to carry cargo.

Because of this, a sailing ship often represents your business in a dream. It can also refer to your job or workplace.

Submarine: Because of its nature, this ship speaks of counter insurgence warfare. It speaks of a ministry that is called to go “under the radar” and bring surprise attacks to the enemy. A good ministry would be that of intercession. Prayer warriors who go “undercover” and undermine the work of the enemy through their hidden prayer closets!

NEGATIVE

Of course, if the submarine you see is negative, it speaks of a sneak attack from the enemy. He has remained hidden and has now revealed himself to attack. I teach more on counter insurgence warfare in my book Prophetic Counter Insurgence

If you dream of a shipwreck, then the Lord is warning you that trouble is coming to your business and you need to prepare for it. Depending on the context of the dream, some of the other symbols should be able to tell you the source of this trouble and how to avoid it.

A leak or hole in your boat indicates an area where the enemy is gaining access to bring destruction. There is something in your life or business that is sinking your ship!

More detail is given in the symbol Boat

Siblings

Consider your relationship with your siblings. Here are some ideas to help you to determine what they might mean.

Positive:

Faith
Hope
Love
The Holy Spirit
Your mind, emotions or will
Your spiritual DNA

Negative:

Hurts of the past
Accusation
Pride
Your flesh

CHARACTER SPECIFIC SYMBOL

It is important that you identify what kind of relationship you have with your sister or brother.

When you think of your sister or brother, what is the first thing that comes to your mind to describe them? What about them stands out the most?

Perhaps your sister is willful. She could speak of your will. Maybe she is insecure, in which case she would speak of insecurity.

Perhaps your brother is highly intellectual, then he would likely speak of your intellect. Maybe your brother was the kind of person that always protected you. In this case he could speak of the Holy Spirit in your dreams.

UNIVERSAL SYMBOL

When I see someone's sibling during ministry, the Lord usually wants to address an issue. Often the Lord indicates that the person needs to break links with their sibling. Other times inner healing needs to take place.

The Lord will give you an inner knowing or impression to go along with the vision. So remain sensitive to the spirit, and you will be able to understand exactly what the Lord wants you to do with the revelation He gave you.

Speaking of the family of Christ:

"For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." - Matthew 12:50

Silver

Positive:

Redemption
Humanity
Money

Negative:

Greed

The price of a slave was 30 pieces of silver. Judas betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:15)

It is a reminder that we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and as a result are now heirs. It is a reminder that we were bought at a very costly price.

There was a Jewish Ceremony called the Feast of Tabernacles. On the day of the feast at the crowning ceremony the Priest would go down to the Pool of Siloam and would bring out a golden goblet of water. Then he would pour the water out of the golden goblet into some silver goblets.

This was a picture of what Jesus was sent to do. He was the golden goblet and we are the silver ones. Because of Him we now have the rivers of living water. If you see a silver cup being filled, this means that the Lord desires to fill you with His anointing.

A silver sword speaks of warfare – the kind that is done by someone who is evangelistic. It is a rugged tool that sets the captives free.

Silver is also a picture of money and trade. Depending on the context of your dream or vision, silver could either represent greed or financial blessing. The Lord has often shown me various tools of silver for those with a business calling.

The Lord once gave my husband, Craig and I a two edged sword. The one side was gold and the other was silver. The Lord said He was bringing the two aspects of our callings together. The one being a clear ministry call and the other a business call.

Snake

The deceptive work of the enemy. Subtle and undetected until its influence is already in full swing.

Positive: The Lord turning the work of the enemy around for our good

Negative:

Deception
Subversive attack
Deliberate sin
Subtle words repeated in your ear, until you think the thoughts are your
own

POSITIVE

I was hard pressed to find a positive representation of a snake in the Word. However, I did manage to find one of interest.

"So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived" - Numbers 21:9

This symbol of course is used widely in the medical industry (a snake wrapped around a pole). It speaks of the Lord turning everything around for good! Even though the Israelites sinned, He used their very sin to bring them healing.

The serpent on the pole was a representation of what Christ did for us. The serpents in this part of scripture speak of sin. However, Christ became sin for us. Hence the serpent on the pole.

The only time a snake would represent something positive is if it is your trade or you have a pet snake that you care for. If you are a snake removal expert, then it would represent an aspect of your work. Perhaps something that is important to you or representative of your financial income.

NEGATIVE

Snakes never have a positive connotation in dreams and visions. In my personal experience and in looking at the Word, a snake speaks of deception.

The bronze serpent I spoke about previously, while meant for healing turned into an idol that later had to be destroyed by King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4)

In personal ministry, I have often seen a serpent wound around the head of a person, speaking lies into their ears. I expose it and tell it to leave.

It also allows me to minister effectively, because then I can encourage the person. I can tell them that the enemy has been lying to them, and that they do not have to listen to his lies any longer!

I have seen various kinds of snakes in the spirit.

I have seen small snakes, which are more of a hindrance than anything serious. They usually come in through association and by reading materials that contain a curse.

Depending on the size of the snake in my dream or vision, it depends on the strength of the demon.

I remember once stumbling on to a website that concentrated on interpreting Scripture into present day experiences. They had taken the Word and had broken it down according to the current events and events of history.

The site seemed innocent enough, even though I did feel a bit of oppression on it.

Soon thereafter everything seemed to go wrong in my life. I felt as if a heavy cloud had come on my head. I found myself getting into conflict with my family, and everything I touched seemed to break!

When I asked for prayer, we saw a serpent attacking me. As I had browsed that site, I had opened my heart to the articles there and actually invited a curse into my life!

I had received a spirit of deception, but as I repented and closed that door, I told the enemy to loose his hold, and the dark cloud around my head lifted immediately!

Cobra/violent snake/viper: Usually when I see a snake like this in the spirit, it speaks of an attack that is not only motivated by deception, but it is also vicious. Vicious words are being spoken against you from someone in deception.

To see a viper, or other such snakes, confirms what Jesus said in this passage.

"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" - Matthew 12:34

Python: There was another time in our ministry where I kept seeing a python in the spirit. Others associated with us saw the same thing, and although we knew a snake represented deception, we needed clarification.

It was then that we found out that there was actually a “spirit of python” in the Word. When we looked it up, that specific passage referred to divination. It was very apt to what was going on in the ministry at that time, because the enemy had sent many false prophets to bring strife and conflict.

As we came against that spirit, those operating in the spirit of divination suddenly left, and things immediately calmed down again.

It is interesting that God had Moses and Aaron use serpents against Pharaoh’s magicians who operated in witchcraft and divination. The message? God is greater than your spirit of divination!

Here is the reference to the “spirit of python” in the Greek and the corresponding passage:

4436 Puthon {poo'-thone}

from Putho (the name of the region where Delphi, the seat of the famous oracle, was located); TDNT - 6:917,*; n m

AV - divination 1; 1

1) in Greek mythology the name of the Pythian serpent or dragon that dwelt in the region of Pytho at the foot of Parnassus in Phocis, and was said to have guarded the oracle at Delphi and been slain by Apollo

2) a spirit of divination

"Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune:" - Acts 16:16

Lies and deception:

"And the Lord God said to the woman, What is this you have done? The woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate." - Genesis 3:13

Spider

A work of the enemy designed to bring about pain, both emotional and physical.

Positive: To be hard at work

Negative:

A spirit of fear
Spirit of infirmity

POSITIVE

If working with spiders is part of your career, then they speak of work. If you see a spider working hard on a web, then this speaks of work that needs to be done. More often than not though, spiders are seen in a negative light.

NEGATIVE

Spiders to most people are not pleasant creatures. If you have a strong fear of spiders, then they would speak of your fears in your dreams.

Generally, though, they speak of the work of the enemy. The good news however, is that they are not a strong attack and refer to something that you can easily overcome.

Even though a spider can be deadly, it can also be easily killed. The Word says that we can trample on serpents and scorpions, and the same is true of spiders!

Spiders speak of the work of the enemy. If you have been getting involved in things that you should not be, then seeing a spider in a vision is an indication that Satan has gained access in your life.
It speaks of the things that the enemy would like to poison you with, bringing you pain and discouragement.

In the spirit we often see spiders as spirits of infirmity. This is a good picture, because even in the natural their bite causes pain and sickness.

Spider’s web: A spider’s web speaks of a subtle work of the enemy that is not obvious at first. When we were first starting out, the fivefold ministry was really new and we faced a lot of opposition!

Often in the spirit we saw this huge spider weaving a web trying to slow us down. The Lord showed us that this was the result of the words of many other ministries speaking against us.

Through these negative words, they were licensing a curse against us and giving the enemy a chance to slow us down. There is no work of the enemy that is stronger than the work of Calvary though.

We stood against those words in the spirit and the fact that you are reading this today is proof that we did indeed overcome.

"They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider's web; he who eats of their eggs dies, and from that which is crushed a viper breaks out." - Isaiah 59:5

Staff

Authority vested in leadership position
Correction
Pastoral ministry (shepherd’s staff)

Positive: Your position of authority

Negative: Loss of leadership

POSITIVE

Depending on the staff that you see in the spirit, you will get a different interpretation.

When you see the shepherd's staff, this refers to either the Great Shepherd (being Jesus), but most often it is a representation of the pastoral ministry.

Shepherd’s club: You might see a rod that is short and thick. This is something that the shepherd also used to carry with him, and he would use it against the wolf! This is called a shepherd's club in Scripture.

When I see this, then I know that the Lord is calling this person to a deliverance type of ministry that deals with attacking the kingdom of darkness to protect the people of God.

Shepherd’s staff: If I see a shepherd's staff in personal ministry then I know that the Lord has called this person to the pastoral ministry. Here is an example from Scripture:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" - Psalms 23:4

A rod: You also get a rod in Scripture. It is sometimes a long rod without any shape. When I see this, I know that the Lord is referring to the rod that brings correction.

In the old days before modern technology, they would break an old foundation using a rod. This is an apostolic function and it involves discipline, smashing old mindsets and templates.

Paul speaks of this rod confirming his apostolic authority in this Scripture:

"What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?" - 1 Corinthians 4:21

Rod of Moses: To further confirm the rod to be symbolic of the apostolic ministry, Moses carried such a rod that the Lord used to do the many signs and wonders with.

God speaking to Moses

"And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs." - Exodus 4:17

Rod of Aaron: If you see a rod or staff that has budded, you are seeing the rod of Aaron and very likely a call to an apostolic function (Numbers 17:8). This apostolic type works closely with the Moses apostle and while Moses is responsible for getting the pattern, it is Aaron who builds it!

He is indeed a beautiful picture of a pastoral apostolic type.

NEGATIVE

The negative aspect of all of these symbols also holds true. If the rod is negative, it means the correction you are facing is not of the Lord, but motivated by the enemy.

A broken staff? There is something very wrong with your authority and the position you hold right now. The Lord is warning you that your position is about to be taken away. Determine if it is the enemy attacking your position or if God intends to remove it from you, to give you another one.

Stone

As a material, it is a solid foundation that cannot be moved. As small stones, it speaks of attacks that are painful, but can be easily overcome.

Positive:

Immovable faith
The Church

Negative:

Accusing words
Circumstantial hindrances from the enemy

POSITIVE

The Word says that Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. This is a foundational stone that held the whole foundation and building together. To see a cornerstone refers to your faith in the Lord Jesus,

"Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone," - 1 Peter 2:7

Jesus said that for some He was a rock of offence. Thousands of years later and still so many are stumbling over Him! If you dream or see a vision of a stumbling stone, but it is positive, it is speaking of the presence of the Lord in your life.

Because He is our cornerstone, this also speaks of unmovable faith. No matter what storm comes your way, you will not be moved because you have built your house on the rock!

Bricks: We are also known as living stones of the church of the Lord:

"Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord," - Ephesians 2:20

The Church is fit together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus being the cornerstone. What a perfect picture of us being the temple of the Holy Spirit!

To see a vision of bricks or stones being used to build a structure speaks of unity and of bringing people together to accomplish the work of God. Not just any work though – one that the Lord intends to remain for years to come.

Each brick might be weak on its own, but cement them together and they are an immovable force!

Stone (the material/tablets): Because of its natural strength stone in scripture could well be related to cement in today’s world. To coin a phrase, “To be set in stone.”

It speaks of something that is established and immovable. Its intent is to remain for years to come. A good picture in the word is that of the stone tablets that Moses wrote the law on. The Lord was saying, “My law is set in stone! It is immovable and will go from generation to generation!”

Determine in your dream or vision if the stone or cement you see is positive or negative! If it is positive, it is a promise from the Lord. If it is negative, then it means there is something very powerful in your life that needs to be destroyed.

NEGATIVE

To see a stony heart is negative. It speaks of someone who has locked in their emotions and become hard and cold. This is the same as someone who has ice around their heart.

"Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts..." - Zechariah 7:12

To be hard as stone means to be stubborn and immovable.

Casting stones: Words of accusation being spoken against you. A good example in the Word is where Jesus spoke to the crowd ready to stone the adulteress. He said, “He is without sin, cast the first stone!” (John 8:7)

Stones on your road: To see stones in your path speaks of hindrances from the enemy. He is sending circumstances your way that he intends to use you trip you up. He does not have any license in your life through your own sin, so he is sending circumstances against you to cause you to falter in your walk and give him license.

Storm

Circumstances that are intended to change your direction for either good or bad.

Positive: A needed change of direction

Negative:

A season of tumult and confusion
A distraction from the enemy to take your eyes off your focus

POSITIVE

Although it might seem that a storm is entirely negative, this is not true. Although a storm is mostly destructive, it makes way for something new to be born as well.

It is only in the storms of life that we learn to take hold of the hand of God. Consider Apostle Paul who faced a terrible storm and even shipwreck while he was a prisoner. As a result of this storm, an entire island of people came to know the Lord (Acts 28)!

The Lord told me once, “I am sending you a storm. Ride the waves”

He showed me that in order to bring about the promises He had given to me, it would require a drastic change of circumstances. He told me that He would not be bringing the promises to me, but that He would take me to the promises! A series of circumstances followed that indeed changed the course of my life forever.

NEGATIVE

Mostly though, storms are negative and speak of the destructive work of the enemy.

He is sending circumstances in your life with the intent to distract you from what God has said. He desires to take your eyes off the goal.

Practically, it will manifest through people and circumstances steering you in every direction but the one you know you must follow. Accusation, financial struggles, attacks on your health...

To dream or have a vision of a storm that you feel is negative means an onslaught of circumstances. Determine the realm of this onslaught. If you are a prophet, you might have a vision of your church facing a storm. Perhaps you will see a particular person in a storm.

This is a lovely promise though:

"He calms the storm, So that its waves are still" - Psalms 107:29

A note about storms: We all face storms in life and it is not the storm that changes us, but how we handle it.

You can choose to throw your hands up in despair, or you could choose to ride the wave and grow stronger through it.

Jesus chose to walk over the waves that were tossing against the ship. It is a beautiful picture of how the Lord expects you to handle the storms.

There are times when you will say “peace be still” and the waves will stop. Other times though, it is simply a matter of walking over it and getting to the other side.

Sun

A new season of hope and promise.

Positive: A promise of hope that things are going to be alright
Negative: Hardship in your circumstances that intend to “shrivel up” God’s blessing

POSITIVE

The sun speaks mostly of something positive in scriptures. The sun brought life to the fields and it chased away the darkness.

Ours is a God of light and a sunrise speaks of the start of something new. It is a picture of overcoming darkness by adding life.

If you dream of a sunrise, then the Lord is saying that your season of struggles and frustration are over. Your season of rest is over and it is time to get moving again.

"And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain." - 2 Samuel 23:4

NEGATIVE

A hot sun can be dangerous though and in a negative sense it can speak of the work of the enemy trying to steal the blessing of God from you. When the enemy cannot dissuade you from the direction God has given to you, He will push you beyond what God intends.

Even though sunshine is a picture of the Lord, a hot sun shrivels up His blessing and it is a work of the enemy. If you feel like you have been pushing through hard and then see a vision of the scorching sun, then the Lord is warning you! He is saying that the enemy is pushing you beyond what God intended and it is time to stop.

"But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away." - Mark 4:6

It stands to reason that to see someone worshipping the sun speaks of idolatry and false religion. They are worshipping what God can give them instead of the Lord for who He is.

Sword

The power and authority you hold in your hand, received from the Lord or used in the flesh.

Positive:

Your authority in Christ
The teaching ministry
A call to spiritual warfare
The Word of God

Negative:

Negative words that have been spoken against you
Doctrine that is destructive

POSITIVE

Generally, the sword is a picture of power. Of course as believers we receive this power by the Word of God.

Below are some variations of how we see swords in the spirit. This might differ for each person.

The sword is an allegorical picture of the Word of God. It is sharp and it divides the truth from the lie.

If you see a sword bringing a division, then the Lord is about to expose the things that are wrong. This of course is carried out a lot by the teacher, who uses the Word to bring the truth and set God's people free.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

So it is no surprise that when I am praying for someone regarding their ministry and I see a golden sword, I know that the Lord is calling them to teacher training.

Ceremonial sword: When the Lord is confirming someone’s position of authority, I will see a ceremonial sword, indicating position. This kind of sword, even in the natural is not used for warfare, but to denote position. I often see various ceremonial swords when placing someone into a ministry office.

Weapon of warfare: I often see a silver sword which speaks of spiritual warfare. It is a practical and “gritty” sword and I know that the Lord desires for me to rise up and set His people free. Often, as a teacher this will mean preaching the truth.

As a prophet it might mean doing spiritual warfare through intercession. As an evangelist it means doing warfare by preaching the gospel. Are you a pastor? Your flock is under attack. You need to rise up and defend them. An apostle? It is time to do warfare by building the correct pattern!

NEGATIVE

Speaking of using your own strength: To pick up your own sword and try to win the battle without the Lord speaks of doing things in your own effort. In the end you will only perish, because without God's power you cannot overcome.

"But Jesus said to him, Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." - Matthew 26:52

Negative words: The Word says that bitter words are like a sword. If you see swords coming against you in the spirit, then the Lord is showing you that others have spoken negative words against you and licensed the enemy to attack.

"Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows - bitter words:" - Psalms 64:3