חֲלוֹם (cha.lom)
cha.lom
dream
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 49 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun chalom refers to a dream, encompassing both ordinary nightly visions and those carrying prophetic weight. In Genesis, it appears frequently as a narrative device where God communicates with figures like Jacob and Joseph through symbolic imagery during sleep (Genesis 31:10, 41:1). This usage establishes dreams as a legitimate channel for divine revelation in the Hebrew Bible.
While often associated with prophecy, the word also describes fleeting or meaningless experiences. Ecclesiastes uses it to illustrate how vanity and trivial matters can consume human thought, comparing them to a dream that vanishes upon waking (Ecclesiastes 5:3, 7). This dual nature shows that not every chalom was viewed as sacred; context determined whether the vision was significant or merely transient.
Translators typically render chalom simply as "dream," though the Hebrew sources note its connection to the verb chalam, meaning to dream. The term’s flexibility allows it to bridge the gap between mundane psychological activity and serious theological encounter, depending on who receives the message and what follows.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Dreams in the Hebrew Bible serve as a bridge between the human experience and divine communication. The word chalom covers both ordinary nightly visions and moments where God speaks with clarity. In Genesis, figures like Jacob and Joseph encounter God through these images, showing that the sacred can appear in our most vulnerable states of rest. This reminds us that God is not distant but attentive to the hidden corners of our lives.
At the same time, Scripture acknowledges that not every dream carries weight. Ecclesiastes uses the term to describe fleeting thoughts that vanish like mist upon waking. This balance invites us to seek wisdom in discernment rather than assuming every vision holds prophecy. We can find comfort in knowing that God’s guidance is reliable, even when our own minds wander through trivial concerns.
Ultimately, this word points to a God who initiates contact. Whether through a warning to Abimelech or a promise to Joseph, divine messages often arrive when we are least expecting them. This encourages a posture of openness and trust, knowing that the Creator values relationship enough to speak in ways we can understand.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 49 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a dream13×
- in/ a dream6×
- the/ dream4×
- in/ dream/ my4×
- dream/ his4×
- like/ a dream3×
- dreams/ his3×
- dreams/ your2×
- by <the>/ dreams2×
- the/ dreams1×
- own dream/ his1×
- in/ [the] dream of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲל֣וֹם5×
- חֲלוֹם֙2×
- חֲלֹמֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם2×
- חֲלֹמ֖/וֹ2×
- חֲל֖וֹם2×
- חֲל֔וֹם2×
- חֲל֑וֹם2×
- הַ/חֲל֥וֹם2×
- הַ/חֲל֛וֹם2×
- בַּ/חֲל֣וֹם2×
- בַּ/חֲל֖וֹם2×
- כַּֽ/חֲלוֹם֙1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 20:3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.”
This verse establishes God’s initiative in using dreams to protect others, showing divine sovereignty over human actions.
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Genesis 41:25
Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one. What God is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh.
Joseph identifies the dream as a direct declaration from God, highlighting its role in revealing future events.
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Genesis 37:9
He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.”
This specific dream introduces conflict and foreshadows Joseph’s rise, demonstrating how divine messages can disrupt human plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word chalom mean?
Are all dreams in the Bible considered divine messages?
How is chalom different from other words for vision?
Why are dreams important in the book of Genesis?
Every Occurrence (49 verses across 11 books)
Genesis 27 verses
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman…
Genesis 20:6God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld…
Genesis 31:10During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock…
Genesis 31:11The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’
Genesis 31:24God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either…
Genesis 37:5Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more.
Genesis 37:6He said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:
Genesis 37:8His brothers asked him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the…
Genesis 37:9He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and…
Genesis 37:10He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you…
Genesis 37:19They said to one another, “Behold, this dreamer comes.
Genesis 37:20Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has…
Genesis 40:5They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the…
Genesis 40:8They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t…
Genesis 40:9The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
Genesis 40:16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and behold,…
Genesis 41:7The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
Genesis 41:8In the morning, his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told…
Genesis 41:11We dreamed a dream in one night, he and I. Each man dreamed according to the interpretation of his dream.
Genesis 41:12There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted…
Genesis 41:15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you,…
Genesis 41:17Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I stood on the brink of the river;
Genesis 41:22I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, full and good;
Genesis 41:25Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one. What God is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh.
Genesis 41:26The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dream is one.
Genesis 41:32The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Genesis 42:9Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the…