Dreams are so intriguing that we often don’t seem to fully understand them. They can be symbolic, mysterious, and even unsettling. A snake or snakes in someone’s dreams can be pretty mind-boggling. Snake dreams can be dreadful and upsetting, especially for devoted Christians. Many cultures and religions worldwide associate this animal with evil, danger, and deception.
At some point, a Christian may wonder what does the Bible say about dreaming about snakes. Or, what is the biblical meaning of snakes in a dream? Let’s check the biblical meanings of snake dreams and their spiritual interpretations in this post.
Snake Dream Symbols Explained
You are certainly eager to discover the biblical meaning of dreaming of snakes. Before that, though, let’s check through the symbolism of snake dreams. The Bible features many references to serpents. We can derive some interesting symbolisms of these reptiles from the holy scriptures. Here’s what snakes suggest from a biblical context.
Deception
We see God asking Eve why she ate the prohibited fruit in Genesis 3:13. She explained how the snake tricked her. What we pick from the biblical story is that it isn’t the serpent that was to blame for tricking Eve to go against God’s warning. Rather, it was the Devil who used the reptile to deceive Eve. From whatever angle we Christians look at it, this story makes the creature a biblical sign of deception.
Temptation
After deceiving Eve, the serpent cunningly tempted Eve to commit sin. The creature convinced the woman that the fruit would make her wise. The symbolic story solidifies the snake’s biblical symbol of temptation.
Judgment and Mercy
God provided the Israelites with all their needs in the wilderness. He even gave them fire to warm themselves in the cold nights and a cloud to protect them from the tormenting desert heat. God was, however, furious when the Israelites were ungrateful. He unleashed his judgment in the form of venomous snakes, as seen in Numbers 21:6. Snakes symbolize God’s judgment from this biblical context. A snake dream can indicate a looming judgment from a biblical perspective.
God showed mercy on the Israelites following the mass snake bites that left many dead. He instructed Moses in Numbers 21:8-9 to carve a brazen snake. Everyone who looked at this brazen snake would heal from their snake bites. Therefore, the serpent could be a biblical symbol of judgment on one hand, while it could symbolize mercy on the other.
Evil Spirits or the Devil
The Bible symbolically represents snakes as demonic forces seeking to lure people into temptations. Revelation 12:9 describes the Devil as the “ancient serpent.” The book of Revelation further discusses the connection between evil spiritual entities and snakes.
Faith
Jesus teaches his disciples about his looming death in John 3:14-15. He narrates how God would lift him like the brazen snake God used to heal the Israelites through Moses. The snakes thus become a symbol of faith if we consider what Jesus told the disciples.
Wisdom
It’s somewhat odd when we see Christ advising the disciples in Matthew 10:16 to be wise like snakes. This verse from the New Testament depicts the serpent as a symbol of wisdom.
Snake Dreams and Their Spiritual Meanings
Christianity is a spiritual religion. That means the Bible is a spiritual book. If you’re wondering, “What does the Bible say about dreaming about snakes?” Then, it makes sense to see snake dreams and their spiritual meanings. Below, you’ll find an analysis of them.
The Snake as the Devil
The Bible refers to the Devil as the ancient serpent. Revelation 20:2 talks of how God seized the dragon. It further describes the dragon as Satan or the Devil. Revelation 12:9 also talks of how the old serpent was cast out into the world alongside his angels. When we Christians talk about the spiritual meanings of snake dreams, it’s apparent encountering these creatures in them confirms the presence of Satan or the Devil. Snake dreams can also reveal a looming attack by the Devil against the dreamer.
Snakes Represent Demons
If you see snakes of different sizes in your dreams, it can be a spiritual sign of the presence of demons or evil spirits. If you dream about snakes in a particular place you usually go to frequently in your life, it means God is revealing to you that there are demonic or evil activities in that place. It’s wise to try your best to avoid that place if you wish to remain safe from the potential evil threats of that place.
Snakes as Representation of Evil People
Whenever we have dreams about serpents chasing us, it signifies the presence of evil or immoral people plotting to harm us. Such people may purport to be caring. Sadly, though, they may be instead committed to harming us or our loved ones. Everyone has some evil people surrounding their lives. These could be our workplace colleagues or even those who live within our neighborhoods and churches. If you keep dreaming about snakes chasing or biting you, you must be wary of people around you.
Interpreting Snake Dreams – Factors to Consider
Christians must consider various factors when interpreting different types of snake dreams to get the exact warnings or messages these are trying to convey. These aspects include the snake’s color, the snake’s location in the dream, and its actions. Check this detailed interpretation of different snake dreams.
Snake Color
Paying attention to the specific color of the serpent that appears in your dream makes interpreting your dream easy. Those who keep dreaming about yellow snakes always wonder what does a yellow snake mean in a dream biblically. Yellow represents cowardice. Therefore, a yellow serpent symbolizes fear. Check these different snake colors and their symbolic meanings.
- Black Snakes: Black snakes signify the presence of evil forces, hidden dangers, and darkness within our lives.
- Green Snakes: Green signifies renewal or growth. It could also represent jealousy and envy in our lives. Dreaming about green snakes could mean there are people envying your progress in life.
- Red Snakes: Red snakes can signify danger or anger. Dreaming about red snakes could be a warning of lurking danger in our lives.
- Iridescent White Snakes: White is a symbol of purity in a spiritual context. Encountering white snakes in your dreams could imply spiritual enlightenment or divine intervention.
Snake’s Location
The location of the snake or snakes in a dream has varied meanings. Dreaming about them in the water can signify ideas and emotions the dreamer barely knows about. Water is a representation of the psychic world. Therefore, dreaming about snakes in the water can mean the dreamer hesitates to acknowledge their feelings.
If you see snakes everywhere in your dream, the message could mean you’re overwhelmed. It means you are living in a constrained physical space. Snakes everywhere could also mean your privacy and safety are in jeopardy. You can also dream of a snake in a specific body part. Such a dream could signify a lurking health problem or an injury. If you experience such a scary dream, you should have that specific body part checked out.
Some of us Christians also dream about snakes in our homes. If you ever dream about having a snake or snakes in your home, this’s a tell-sign of a demonic or satanic presence. It means some agents of evil or darkness are roaming around, waiting for an opportunity to harm or attack you or your family.
The Snake’s Action
The actions of the snake or snakes you’ve been dreaming about can carry different meanings. For instance, an approaching serpent could mean a pending life-threatening situation in your life. If you dream of being attacked by snakes, it may be indicative of some forthcoming catastrophe in your life. A dream involving a biting snake sends a symbolic warning of an evolving threat you already know.
If the snake or snake in your dreams is seen to be chasing you, it can signify danger. It also shows you are anxious about the threat. Such a dream is common when we are in extreme anxiety. When you dream about a snake that seems to be ignoring you instead of attacking or biting you, it can mean that the bad or negative things you’re anticipating won’t materialize.
If the snake in your dream is shedding its skin, the dream can signify rebirth. This dream symbolizes progress. It shows you will seamlessly navigate around the obstacles in your path, leading to tremendous personal development over time.
Snake Dreams – The Positive Aspects
Although snake dreams have negative connotations biblically, these dreams can sometimes carry positive spiritual meanings. A snake dream involving the dreamer killing a snake can mean they have overcome their predicaments. Such a dream can mean victory over demons and the satanic agents of darkness placed in your path.
A dream involving a dead snake can signify the absence of danger or evil and demonic spirits. If the snake in your dream is dead, it symbolizes relief. It shows you have nothing to worry about, particularly if you have been praying for divine intervention. The dream signifies a remarkable breakthrough!
Any snake dream that cautions us of danger serves as an awakening call. It keeps us more alert and ensures we walk towards spiritual awakening. Experiencing positive snake dreams can signify new beginnings or transformations in our lives. Overall, not all snake dreams carry negative connotations. Some snake dreams could be precisely what we Christians need for spiritual transformation.
In Conclusion
Snake dreams can have plenty of biblical meanings. Although the holy scriptures don’t give us the precise meanings of different snake dreams, the Bible gives us plenty of clues on snake symbols. It’s up to Christians to interpret their dreams whenever they see these reptiles in them. Snake dreams don’t need to be scary for Christians; instead, they are more of a special way of conveying unique messages.