Apricot
Apricot represents Jesus Christ as first love and first fruit. Apricot appears in the Song of Solomon 2:3, “As an apricot tree stands out in the forest, my lover stands above the young men in town. All I want is to sit in His shade, to taste and savour His delicious love.” Holman Christian Standard Bible
The word “apricot” has an etymology of early ripening fruit, and like the verse above, is a symbol of Jesus Christ. He is the “First Fruit” as seen in 1 Corinthians 15: 20, 21, 23 and 24:
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (died). For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.”
“But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.”
Animals
Animals are commonly called “beasts” in the Bible. Some represent something good, such as the Lamb for Jesus or chickens.
Doves, donkey and the ant are also seen as positive symbols.
Chickens represent the believers whom Jesus would take under His “wings”. See also Psalm 91:1-4
But more often, animals are seen as fallen humans behaving in a way that is unspiritual – even if it appears good / law abiding. This is because people who are unspiritual are left to their fallen nature which can be like mere animals. Atheists today often claim we are no more than animals which is interesting.
So we have to decide are these positive and desirable animals or are they a negative symbol. It will depend on the other dream situations and symbols.
An example of this deterioration of humanity is seen in Daniel 4. Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance made his mental health degenerate into an animal state. Daniel had warned him that his dream meant he would graze like an animal:
Daniel 4:28 “But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30 As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendour.’
31 “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. 32 You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’
33 “That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.”
Also Psalm 22:12, 13 Predicting Jesus on the Cross:
“My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey.”
Jesus called Herod “that fox” Luke 13:32
In Amos 4:1 Israelites are likened to pampered cows:
“You women of Samaria are fat cows! You mistreat and abuse the poor and needy, then you say to your husbands, “Bring us more drinks!”
And in Jeremiah 13:23b we see the leopard’s spots symbols of flaws / sin:
“Can a leopard take away its spots?
Neither can you start doing good,
for you have always done evil.”
Wolves are seen as devourers and depict bad people who seek to destroy believers.
Luke 10:3 “Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.”
Acts 20:29 “I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock”.
List of unclean land animals – while these are only unclean under ceremonial law, we see unclean animals are used symbolically by the Holy Spirit in the dream that Peter had in Acts 10 which opened the door for Gentile salvation.
Acts 10:12 “In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.
Badgers, Bears, Camels, Cats (and all larger cats like tigers etc), Dogs (all canines such as Foxes, Wolves), Donkeys, Elephants, Gorillas, Horses (and Zebras), Kangaroos, llamas, Mice, Rats, Monkeys, Possums, Pigs (Swine), Rabbits and Hares, skunks, Slugs and Snails, Squirrels, Worms, Amphibians (Frogs, Turtles, etc), Molluscs (includes snails and oysters etc) Reptiles (Snakes, Lizards, Crocodiles) these generally represent lies.
Angles, Geometry
Angles represent an amount of turning. In biblical dreams this commonly means repentance. Corners in dreams may have a similar meaning; although a cornered person may represent coming to the end of one’s tether and therefore being confronted by the Holy Spirit – in the corner there is nowhere to go but to turn around. Turning a corner also symbolises a repentant path, especially 180 degrees.
With angles, if it is a particular angle, right angle (correct / corrected) or acute etc., we may note its particular size. If a numerical value is given for the angle such as 180 degrees, we know this is a U turn that we are encouraged to take in our walk with the Lord, back to Him. Sometimes the numerical value, if stated in the dream, is like the numbers indicated on the clock – having biblical meaning apart from quantity.
Going down a passage or hallway and then turning right may indicate a path in time before such a move to a more righteous position in the Lord.
Geometric shapes are also considered in biblical dreams. For example a triangle, being a three sided shape may symbolise the trinity, or refer to oneself within the trinity – as humans are body + soul + spirit. Being made in God’s image, we are also tripartite.
But if the word geometry is either in the dream, or comes to mind immediately upon waking, one may be seeing something of the earth which has been “measured”.
Arrows
Arrows may be positive or negative symbols in dreams because both appear in the Bible. It depends who is holding or firing the arrows, and at whom.
In the positive, arrows, particularly contained in a quiver, may represent one’s children. This is seen in the second half of Psalm 127 in verses 3 to 5:
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”
Arrows are mentioned as “fiery darts or arrows” in a negative context, describing spiritual attacks from the devil. These can be extinguished by our faith,
“In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16
We only have to resist the devil / tempting thoughts and he must flee from us as believers have a new creation nature.
Arrows can also be sharp, piercing words, Psalm 64:2-4
“Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
Who sharpen their tongue like a sword,
And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
That they may shoot in secret at the blameless;
Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.”
They can also symbolise enemy attacks of physical nature as well as personal – as in Psalm 64 above. These destructions cannot harm the believer who is kept in Christ. If persecutions, they are not to be feared:
“You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day.” Psalm 91:5
The sin nature in humanity is also subject to the “arrows” of God. Anything that harms His children is an enemy of God. Sin must be destroyed for humankind to be free of it. Many Old Testament arrow symbols are used to describe God’s supernatural weapons., For example,
“They (God’s enemies) devise iniquities:
“We have perfected a shrewd scheme.”
Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;
Suddenly they shall be wounded.
So He will make them stumble over their own tongue;
All who see them shall flee away.”
Bar or Disbar breaking the curse of legalism
When the word “bar” appears in dreams, or there is a barrier, like a boom gate we are often being told of blockages caused by either legalistic attitudes or curses. This is because the word “bar” in our language is related to both a barrier and the law.
Etymology Online is a very helpful site when we come to words which may not appear to be in our English translations. In fact, they often point to Greek and Hebrew origins that then link us into our Bible study. Not everyone is as excited about etymology as I am. It’s not everyone’s calling. But it is worth noting here because when we look up https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=bar and scroll down we find this for the word bar:
“whole body of lawyers, the legal profession,” 1550s, a sense which derives ultimately from the railing that separated benchers from the hall in the Inns of Court”.
Now we know that a covenant is a legal transaction and binding. The Bible teaches the power of words to bless or curse as well. These are legal matters that can be revoked. Satan certainly considers curses binding. It is for us to refute every word that is set in judgment against us. It is our confession in Christ with our mouth that expresses saving faith given by God. We enact it through our freewill.
For me, the major “bar” to my receiving healing in my body, and also primarily of my soul (mind and emotions) came from the curse of the law set in place in my family of origin through the British Israel religion of my father. This is a false religion and very binding in aspects of the ceremonial laws. In my case the most binding part was the food laws, but it coloured my life, my thinking and finally my health so that I spent decades first in discomfort and eventually in continual pain. It all stopped abruptly when I broke that curse and began to speak the opposite, using scriptures as blessings over myself. It was a simple process. the erosion of old thoughts, and replacement with healthy ones, however, takes time walking with the Lord – but it does transform the believer’s life (Romans 12:2). The speed of transformation of the mind depends on one’s determination to believe the Word of God and hold fast to His truth about the healing of our bodies and not the devil’s lies.
What those who are emancipated from legalistic curses find is that they are amazed that they were so deceived in this particular matter. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1.
Other “bar” references in dreams can be things like a boom gate that obstructs, hinders or impedes one’s progress. For people in legalistic bondage or a legalistic church this kind of dream symbols will be repeated. There are of course many other images that Jesus used related to legalism and you will find those under “Scot”, “white wash” or chalk, lime, “plank of wood (beam in the eye)” and other entries under this tab.
If there is a matter of sailing in a dream with a sand bar stopping one’s passage / navigation, this too speaks of a legalistic life. Navigation, anchors, sailing and the like are also biblical dream metaphors. Sailing often refers to one’s ministry as it pictures Paul’s journeys. We are to imitate Paul spiritually where He did in Christ.
Bear / s
If a bear appears in a dream, take note of its characteristics, its size, colour and activity – a Koala suggests final comfort and an Australian entity. However, Koalas can also show aggression. Aussies love koala bears – even though technically they are really marsupials and not bears.
Certainly American bears would not symbolise comfort unless morphing in the dream.
Bears are typically depicted as strong destroyers in the Bible. Like all symbols, there are aspects of the natural object being depicted.
Bears commonly symbolise political entities, sometimes represented as political leaders but can appear as either God’s agent or an agent of punishment of another entity in dreams.
Proverbs 28:15 “Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.”
Bears can be symbols of righteous judgment. 2 Kings 2:23
King David, as a warrior is also likened to a bear. 2 Samuel 17:8 Then Hushai said, “You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are fierce, like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field.
Daniel’s Chapter 7 dream, which was a series of pictures / visions, was a prophecy of kingdoms related to Israel’s future. He had a vision of the kingdoms that would come from his time onwards till the cross. The second beast is described as a “bear”: Daniel 7:5 And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it: ‘Arise, devour much meat / flesh!’ Daniel was given the interpretation and this second “beast” was Medo-Persia.
Daniel 7:17 and 18 “‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings / empires who will arise from the earth. But the saints (believers) of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and take possession of the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.” These “great beasts” are clarified also in the Bible as Babylon, invaded by Medo-Persia (one side being higher) then Greece and finally Rome. This highly symbolic mention of the bear, seen as representing Medo-Persia, came to punish and overtake Babylon – the very kingdom which had destroyed Israel’s temple, taken the gold and precious furnishings and exiled nearly all the Jews. For this treatment of the Jews, Babylon was punished and Cyrus the Mede was God’s choice political leader to do so. The restoration of the Jews was important, not so much politically on the world stage; rather, the Royal Line of Judah was to be preserved to bring Messiah’s birth.
So, when we see a bear in a dream, we know that punishment of God’s enemies is intended. God is at enmity with anything that comes against His children and stops their healing. So, this is a good thing.
A bear may also be seen eating a smaller animal in a dream, such as a “black dog”. When it is an Australian “Bear”, i.e., a Koala, it may seem ridiculous. But the message is this – the Koala who usually dines on leaves in Australia, is the Australian entity which will defeat depression (the black dog). It will appear impossible since Koalas are not usually carnivorous – but the black dog in this case is not of flesh and the koala is behaving like a real bear / destroyer / punisher. The black dog can also represent other Aussie ills to be eaten / destroyed. Koalas are not only indicative of an Australian scene – they speak of a final and desirable situation. Aussies love koala bears – even though technically they are really marsupials.
Revelation picks up this imagery, including the fact that such things arise from the sea – (the sea symbolising fallen humanity). Revelation 13 “The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.” Each of these animals has a symbolic idea to describe the entity. The lion’s mouth suggests he speaks like Jesus (the Lion of the tribe of Judah). This indicates he’s a liar appearing to be light, but really is evil.
A panda bear, being black and white, when in one’s dream, adds the extra idea of “mixture” of righteousness and evil. Theologians call this syncretism. In simple language, it is idolatry when one mixes Christianity with any other practice – Christ alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life, abundant life! See John 10.
