Rabbits / Hares
For a full view of the pictures, click on Baby Bunnies and hit the arrows:
Rabbits can appear in dreams as a single pet rabbit, in numbers, or even as a dead rabbit. Because rabbits are dream symbols of unclean food (food being a key symbol of the Word of God). The better rabbit in a dream would be a dead one, indicating the problem is fixed, unless of course one is carrying it around or mourning over it. Rabbits and hares are said in the Old Testament to be unclean animals, not to be eaten. while these health restrictions were types before the cross of Christ, and don’t apply now in the same way, they can appear in dreams as symbols of something unclean. Most commonly in dreams, rabbits symbolise false prophecy or mis-interpreted Scripture.
The references for this “uncleanness” are Leviticus 11: 1-8 and Deuteronomy 14:7.
The rabbit was disqualified as “clean” food on only one count: its feet are not a cloven hoof. To be edible, the mammal would need to have both a cloven (divided) hoof and also be one to chew its cud. The rabbit, like sheep, goats and cattle does chew its cud, meaning, generally, healthier meat for the consumer. But the fact that the rabbit has paws like a dog or cat, puts it in the “unclean” category.
Rabbits, like the leaven of the Pharisees, are able to multiply quickly and become a devourer of crops. Their foraging destroys the roots of plants and crops. They can come to plague proportions. As such they are symbolic of sin, unbelief, legalism and harm to human well-being. Much of our understanding of this symbolism comes from the key parable Jesus introduced His disciples to in Matthew 13, the parable of The Sower and the Seed. The parable is repeated in Mark 4 and Luke 8.
This parable, according to Jesus, in Mark 4:13 is foundational to understanding the way He speaks to us in parables. It is foundational because it introduces us to the ways that Satan can rob us of His life giving word. Therefore, dreams about rabbits are not just a correction which may make us feel bad – rabbit dreams give us key understanding about what we can do to fix our problematic misapprehension.
The sin that the rabbit symbolises would therefore be about mishandling Scripture in such a way that devours its true meaning. See Matthew 13:19.
If a believer dreams of having a pet rabbit, it may indicate a sin / habit that displeases the Lord regarding the Word of God. It is being pointed out because the believer is unaware of in waking life. Usually when this is given by the Holy Spirit it is intended to bring liberty to the individual. Sometimes the deliverance comes during the dream, sometimes as the believer prays about its meaning and searches the scriptures which are also indicated by other symbols in the dream, or dreams occurring around the same time. Yet it is possible to ignore the warning if the habit is one’s pet doctrine. It depends on one’s willingness to be corrected by the Holy Spirit through God’s word and word gifts, such as dreams which point to the necessary Bible passages.
The most common error we see is when folk don’t see the Bible passages in the dream because they are unfamiliar with the ways of the Holy Spirit.
Yet if one has been given a rabbit dream from the Lord, He will clarify the problem when the dreamer presses into His Holy Spirit for the clarification and healing.
Dreaming of animals which have no cloven hoof may well indicate one is not “dividing” the Gospel of peace correctly, hence their own feet may appear also in that same set of dreams. Black shoes in such a dream would indicate sin – missing the gospel. The shoes of the Gospel of Peace are part of one’s armour. We read about Gospel feet in Isaiah 52:7″How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Paul picks this up in Romans 10:15 “And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ” ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!‘ “ Paul also alludes to this in his well-known armour passage of Ephesians 6:15 “… and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
Dividing the Word of Truth rightly, is important if we are to stay on Jesus’ narrow path walking with Him. That truth involves healing.
So if you have had a dream about a rabbit, especially a pet / tame rabbit, the Lord is calling you into healing given from His hand.
So we the Holy Spirit to show us where our error of scriptural understanding lies. That will take a choice on our part. It may take some follow up learning. But each time we learn more of His Way, we walk in more and more liberty of soul. We take on more of Jesus Christ.
This continuing transformation of our mind and emotions – into the image of God’s Son is His will for all of us, so walk in His power in it! Align with the newly created spirit He has gifted us with. We won’t be sorry!
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (NASB) The New King James says “rightly dividing” the word of truth. And we see that this is the only time this expression is used in the New Testament. It is the word ὀρθοτομέω (orthotomeō) – “to cut straight; to set forth truthfully, without perversion or distortion,” As with the cloven feet of our dream symbolism, it speaks of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Like the faith of Abraham – He whose children we are if we are of faith – Abraham cut the animals in two – simple division – and God made that wonderful covenant with Abraham, in readiness for the greatest covenant we are now under. Because of the cross, the temple veil was torn in two….. that we might be forgiven and healed. Not for vainglory, into misinterpreted scripture, but to grow in His image and to walk with Jesus in Christ who draws us into the Father’s loving arms.
Roof
When a roof is featured in a dream, it is usually in association with a house or other protective structure. sheds, garages, caravans, rotundas – they all generally have a roof. A roof protects from bad features of the weather, such as rain, excess sun, wind and also from enemies.
Some dream dictionaries may list a roof as symbolising a pastor, elder or church as your covering. This is simply not so. But many churches and preachers today tell their congregants that they must come under some human / church covering. this has been shown to be a serious backwards step, as our only covering is Christ, depicted as the covering on the Atonement Seat. See Exodus 25:10 to 22.
To interpose another “layer” of professional clergy between God in Christ and the believer is to subscribe to a backwards movement into Old Covenant practice. This was done in a big and influential way in the twentieth century. Many church leaders still hold to the practice, which causes bondage and coercion for many people.
What is often taught in orthodox Christianity is the absolute necessity of becoming a member of a local denomination, with a financial commitment to the upkeep of its buildings and salaries as well as at least weekly attendance at its Sunday meetings. There is generally only one verse used to back this demand. It is Hebrews 10:25. Generally, it is understood that no doctrine can be established without the testimony of two scriptures – but this is the only one usually offered to pressure people into believing it says one must be in a building on Sunday morning. But the verse is not written for that purpose.
Our covering is God in Christ, and the condition and context of a dream roof is symbolic of our relationship with our Saviour. Scriptures for this truth are: Psalm 91; Matthew 23:37. See also Genesis 3:21 (clothing also covers and is symbolic of Christ, especially over the heart or private parts – covering shame) Psalm 5:11; 12:1-8; 18:2; 32:7; Proverbs 10:12 because God is love who covers sin in the Old Testament.
Rosemary
Rosemary, appearing in a dream as a woman, may be the symbolic meaning of the name as Rose + Mary, the symbol of the herb or a real person by that name.
Rose – means “famous type” and may allude to the types and shadows of the Old Covenant. If this is so, there would most likely be other symbols to tie in with this notion.
Mary – is originally a Hebrew name from Egypt, Miriam (Moses sister) bore this name. It has dual meanings of bitterness and beloved. When you think of what we know of Miriam, both apply.
Rosemary, appearing in a dream as a person, may reference the herb which has a meaning of “dew of the sea”. In this case it would probably come with other “sea” references about gentiles, the mass of unsaved humanity. This would be a more obscure symbol and I haven’t seen it used as such.
If it is about the herb as a green plant, it may be about remembrance – that is why we associate Jesus’ sacrifice for us every time we eat our bread and wine. Because dreams using this name are more common on Remembrance Day – this is a common biblical dream symbol. We remember Jesus’ sacrifice just as we do for veterans. Even the appearance of a girl / woman called Rosemary may indicate the need for the dreamer to remember Jesus Christ and all he has done for us. This is peculiar to cultures that know the plant has this meaning.
It could also possibly be about the character of the person Rosemary you know, or more particularly if she is a person from your past.
It could be a combination of the above.
In particular, a man dreaming about a liaison with a former girlfriend, or ex by any name, is being warned of falling back into a bad habit or sin. The espousing of oneself being akin to adultery as a symbol of unfaithfulness. It would depend on the context of the dream.
Running
Running a race symbolises living in the Spirit of Christ through one’s life in obedience to the Father’s will. the Jesus and the writers of the epistles assure this is possible. We are never asked to do something that our indwelling Holy Spirit won’t empower us to do.
2 Timothy 4 :7 and 8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
“His (Jesus) appearing” refers to the coming justice for believers in 70AD and vindication of the martyrs. Those who are glad the end came to the “building made with hands” are the ones who love that Jesus kept His word and returned to judge within His own generation. They are the ones “running” the race and unashamed of the Gospel. To dream of running in your race, now, in this Messianic age, therefore, identifies the dreamer as Christ’s and not a hypocrite.
Hebrews 12:1 and 2 was written to Jewish Christians under dreadful persecution, not long before the Roman-Jewish war. the writer had to encourage them not to go back to the temple ceremonial law and sacrifices. Although they were believers in Christ, their families and work guilds were making them economic and social outcasts on account of their faith in Christ. some of these believing Jews, therefore, had turned back, under family pressure, to animal sacrifices. The writer of Hebrews warns them that this will lead to their destruction because at the close of “that generation” the temple, those who had not become believers, those who had pierced and crucified Him, and sentenced Paul (including Caiaphas – Matthew 26:64) would meet destruction / judgment. This is what “the clouds” represent / symbolise consistently in the Bible (God’s presence and earthly judgment in wars). This persecution, leading up to the judgment being put in place in heaven also was what the epistles were steeling the believers against, urging a life of faith to combat the trials:
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The sin referred to here is compromise, having a foot in both camps and therefore denying Christ when under pressure.
As with most actions, the context is important. Is the person or animal running with someone / something? Running with someone / something (not as a race) is to be one with that entity in relationship – could be Christ. Song of Solomon 1:2 to 4.
But to lose “weights” in a dream and start to run, identifies the runner as belonging to Jesus. Remember the people in dreams are often representations of one’s own personhood, your body, your soul or your spirit. In our Father’s image, we are three in one person.
