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Biblical Meaning of Vision of the Night in Dreams

The phrase "vision of the night" in biblical texts refers to a specific type of divine communication, often occurring during sleep, yet distinct from ordinary dreams. The Hebrew term for "dream" is חֲלוֺם ( chalom ), which can denote both common dreams and those with prophetic meaning [7]. The term for "vision" is חָזוֺן ( chazon ), which signifies a vision, often seen in an ecstatic state or as a divine communication [8].

In Job 33:15, the two terms are used together: "In a dream—a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed" [3]. This verse suggests that a "vision of the night" is a particular kind of dream, one that carries divine significance [9, 13]. God frequently used dreams to communicate His will to individuals, as seen in the experiences of Jacob, Laban, Joseph, and Pharaoh [6]. These dreams were often perplexing and required interpretation [4].

While dreams are a common vehicle for divine revelation in the Old Testament [6], "visions" are sometimes presented as a higher form of revelation [15]. For instance, Abraham's prophecy initially came through nocturnal visions, but later he merited a daytime vision [12]. The Easton's Bible Dictionary distinguishes a vision as a "vivid apparition, not a dream" [2]. However, the Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that God often made His will known through visions, which frequently occurred in the night season or in a trance [5].

Under the Christian dispensation, while trances and visions are frequently mentioned, dreams are not typically referred to as vehicles of divine revelation, suggesting a distinction between the two forms of communication [1]. The Apostle Peter, quoting Joel, speaks of "sons and daughters" prophesying, "young men" seeing visions, and "old men" dreaming dreams, indicating different modes of spiritual experience [14].

The distinction between a mere dream and a "vision of the night" lies in its divine origin and prophetic content. Such visions were not merely the product of an overactive mind but were understood as direct communications from God, often conveying messages about future events or divine instruction [10, 11].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dreams — The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking thoughts. But, in accordance with the principle enunciated by St. Paul in (1 Corinthians 14:15) dreams, in which the understanding is asleep, are placed below the visions of prophecy, in which the understanding plays its part. Under the Christian dispensation, while we read frequently of trances and vision, dreams are never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation. In exact accordance with this principle are the actual records of the ”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Vision — (Luke 1:22), a vivid apparition, not a dream (comp. Luke 24:23; Acts 26:19; 2 Cor. 12:1).”
  3. Job “Job 33:15 (YLT) — In a dream--a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Dreams — Visions in sleep -- Job 33:15; Da 2:28. Often by imaginary -- Job 20:8; Isa 29:8. Excess of business frequently leads to -- Ec 5:3. God's will often revealed in -- Nu 12:6; Job 33:15. False prophets Pretended to. -- Jer 23:25-28; 29:8. Not to be regarded in. -- De 13:1-3; Jer 27:9. Condemned for pretending to. -- Jer 23:32. Vanity of trusting to natural -- Ec 5:7. The ancients Put great faith in. -- Jdj 7:15. Often perplexed by. -- Ge 40:6; 41:8; Job 7:14; Da 2:1; 4:5. Anxious to have, explained. -- Ge 40:8; Da 2:3. Consulting magicians on. -- Ge 41:8; Da 2:”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Visions — God often made known his will by -- Ps 89:19. God especially made himself known to prophets by -- Nu 12:6. Often accompanied A representative of the divine person and glory. -- Isa 6:1. An audible voice from heaven. -- Ge 15:1; 1Sa 3:4,5. An appearance of angels. -- Lu 1:22,11; 24:23; Ac 10:3. An appearance of human beings. -- Ac 9:12; 16:9. Frequently difficult and perplexing to those who received them -- Da 7:15; 8:15; Ac 10:17. Often communicated In the night season. -- Ge 46:2; Da 2:19. In a trance. -- Nu 24:16; Ac 11:5. Often recorded for the benefit o”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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,”
  7. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H2472] chalom — H2472. chalom חֲלוֺם noun masculineGen 37:10 dream; — ׳ת absolute 37:5 +, construct 20:3, חֲלֹם absolute 20:6, construct 31:24; suffix חֲלוֺמִי 40:9, 16, חֲלֹמִי 41:17, 22, חֲלֹמוֺ 40:5 5t.; plural חֲלֹמוֺת Jer 23:32 10t. etc., + 7 t. suffix — dream 1 ordinary dream of sleep Job 7:14; 20:8; Psa 73:20; Eccl 5:2; 5:6; Isa 29:7. 2 dreams with prophetic meaning, the lowest grade of prophecy (see BrMP 6): a. dream of Abimelek Gen 20:3, 6, of Jacob 31:10-11, Laban 31:24, Joseph 37:5-6, 8, 9 (twice in verse); 37:10, 19, 20; 42:9, Pharaoh and his servants 40:5 (3 t. in verse); 40:”
  8. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H2377] chazon — H2377. chazon חָזוֺן noun masculineDan 8:1 vision (on formation compare LgBN 204) — absolute ׳ח Hosea 12:11 25t.; construct חֲזוֺן Isa 1:1 8t. 1 vision, as seen in the ecstatic state || קסם Micah 3:6; || מקסם Ezek 12:24; || חלמות Dan 1:17; || נביא 9:24; ח ׳חזה Ezek 12:27; 13:16; ח ׳ראה Dan 8:15; בח ׳ראה 8:2 (twice in verse); 9:21; בח ׳דבּר Psa 89:20; אל נראה חזון Dan 8:1 vision appeared unto; מיהוה ח ׳מצא Lam 2:9 find a vision from Yahweh; also Ezek 12:22-23, Dan 8:13, 17, 26; 10:14; 11:14. 2 vision, in the night לַיְלָה חֲזוֺן Isa 29:7. 3 divine communication in a vision,”
  9. Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 33:15: I. In a Dream In a Dream - when deep sleep falleth upon men - Many, by such means, have had the most salutary warnings; and to decry all such, because there are many vain dreams, would be nearly as much wisdom as to deny the Bible, because there are many foolish books, the authors of which supposed they were under a Divine influence while composing them. II. In a Vision In a Vision of the night - in slumberings upon the bed - Visions or images presented in the imagination during slumber, when men are betwixt sleeping and waking, or when, awake and in bed, they are wra”
  10. Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 7:13: 7:13-14 Dreams and their interpretations were often discussed in Egypt and Babylonia. The Old Testament teaches that dreams are inspired by God and are best interpreted by his revelation (see Gen 41:15-16, 25; Dan 2:28). The point of this dream is clear: Gideon’s band, represented as a rounded loaf of barley bread, would come tumbling down and overturn the Midianite camp.”
  11. Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Daniel 8:26: And the vision of the evening and the morning which was said to you in the preceding dream, is true.”
  12. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Genesis 15:1: THE WORD OF THE ETERNAL CAME UNTO ABRAM IN A VISION. Abraham now merited that the word of G-d should come to him in a daytime vision for at first his prophecy came to him in nocturnal visions. The meaning of the word bemachzeh (in a vision) is as in the meaning of the verse, And all the people saw the thunderings , 220 Exodus 20:18. and the secret thereof is known to those who are learned in the mysteries of the Torah.”
  13. Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 33:15: In a dream, in a vision of the night,.... That is, God speaks to men in this way, and which in those times was his most usual way; see Job 4:12; sometimes he spake to a prophet, a person in public office, and made known his mind and will in this manner to him, that he might deliver it to others, Num 12:6; and sometimes directly and immediately to persons themselves, as he did to Abimelech and Laban, Gen 20:3; when deep sleep lieth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; the former denotes a fast, heavy, and sound sleep, when the senses are all locked up, and there is n”
  14. Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 2:17: in the last days--meaning, the days of the Messiah (Isa 2:2); as closing all preparatory arrangements, and constituting the final dispensation of God's kingdom on earth. pour out of my Spirit--in contrast with the mere drops of all preceding time. upon all flesh--hitherto confined to the seed of Abraham. sons . . . daughters . . . young men . . . old men . . . servants . . . handmaidens--without distinction of sex, age, or rank. see visions . . . dream dreams--This is a mere accommodation to the ways in which the Spirit operated under the ancient”
  15. Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 8 (introduction): VISION OF THE RAM AND HE-GOAT: THE TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED DAYS OF THE SANCTUARY BEING TRODDEN DOWN. (Dan. 8:1-27) vision--a higher kind of revelation than a dream. after that . . . at the first--that in Dan 7:1.”
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