Dreams About Sexual Emissions and Blood in Scripture
Dreams in Scripture
Dreams are a recurring theme in the biblical narrative, often serving as a means of divine communication. The Bible records numerous instances where God speaks to individuals through dreams, including Jacob, Joseph, and Solomon [1].
In the Old Testament, dreams are associated with prophecy and the reception of divine messages. The book of Joel foretells a time when God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, resulting in sons and daughters prophesying, young men seeing visions, and old men dreaming dreams [3]. This prophecy is later quoted in Acts 2:17, where it is interpreted as being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost [4].
The biblical account of dreams includes instances where they are used to convey God's will or warning. For example, Abimelech receives a dream warning him about Abraham's wife, Sarah [1]. Similarly, Jacob has a dream in which he sees a vision of goats mating, which is interpreted as a sign from God [5].
Dreams involving sexual emissions are also addressed in Levitical law. According to Leviticus 15:16, a man who experiences a nocturnal emission is considered unclean until the evening and must wash his flesh in water. This regulation is interpreted by John Gill as referring to involuntary emissions, such as those occurring during a dream or lustful imagination [8].
The interpretation of dreams in Scripture varies across traditions. Some view dreams as a legitimate means of receiving divine guidance, while others are more cautious, warning against false prophets who claim to receive messages through dreams [2]. In the New Testament, dreams are not emphasized as a primary means of divine revelation, although they are still mentioned as occurring, such as in the case of Pilate's wife [1].
The early Christian interpretation of dreams is reflected in the writings of various commentators. Adam Clarke notes that many have received salutary warnings through dreams, and that dismissing all dreams as vain would be unwise [6]. Similarly, John Gill interprets Job 33:15 as indicating that God speaks to men through dreams, often in a way that is beyond human understanding [7].
The significance of dreams in Scripture is multifaceted, reflecting both the cultural context of the ancient world and the theological themes of divine communication and revelation. As such, dreams continue to be a subject of interest and interpretation within various Christian traditions.
Sources
- 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,”
- 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:”
- Joel ““It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. -- Joel 2:28”
- Acts “‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. -- Acts 2:17”
- Genesis “During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled. -- Genesis 31:10”
- 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”
- 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”
- Leviticus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Leviticus 15:16: And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him,.... Not in lawful cohabitation, nor voluntarily, but involuntarily, as Aben Ezra observes; not through any disorder, which came by an accident, or in any criminal way, but through a dream, or any lustful imagination; what is commonly called nocturnal pollution (c): then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even; and so the Egyptian priests, when it happened that they were defiled by a dream, they immediately purified themselves in a laver (d) so the Jewish priests did when the like ha”