I recently told a friend about some vivid dreams I have been having including one about zombies trying to hug and kiss on me! Dreams can often be disturbing, and we wonder if they hold some deeper meaning, especially if they contain images of something as intimate as a kiss.
I know many people who see their dreams as a sign from God telling them what to do in their waking life. Throughout the Bible, there are numerous instances of people looking for someone to interpret their dreams. Yet, Joseph told Pharaoh in Genesis 40:8, “God is the only One who can explain the meaning of dreams” (CEV). If you have a dream about kissing someone, could that dream be a message from God?
Perhaps you have also had a dream about being kissed, hopefully not by zombies, but you have wondered what the dream might mean? Does the Bible give us any direction about interpreting an intimate experience like a kiss in a dream? Is your subconscious trying to uncover some hidden truth or is God trying to reveal something to you about your life? What is the true biblical meaning of a kiss in a dream?
Biblical meaning of a Kiss in a Dream:
Many people have looked for interpretations to their dreams about kissing someone. Almost everyone agrees that the interpretation varies because of the many different kinds of kissing – a friendly peck on the cheek, an affirmative kiss of solidarity or support on the top of the head or forehead, a modest kiss on the hand as a sign of respect, the kiss of a parent on the wound of a child, or a passionate kiss on the lips of a lover. Each of these kisses means something different in life, and therefore, they most likely mean something different in your dreams.
I have always been fascinated by my dreams, and I can usually remember many of the details in vivid color. There have been times when I am confident the dream was a message of warning or preparation from God about something I was about to encounter. For instance, many years ago, I had a dream about a relative who had been diagnosed with a health problem. I awoke one morning and told my wife to pack a suitcase because we would be returning to my hometown soon for this relative’s funeral. During the previous night, I had a dream in which my relative had died. Later that next day, I received a call informing us of my family member’s death, and we loaded our packed suitcase in the car to return home. According to Numbers 12:6 (NIV) in the Bible, God has said, “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.” .
Clearly, God does not speak to everyone through their dreams, and not every dream is a direct message from God. Most of the time, our dreams are a conglomeration of our waking thoughts, or at the least a compilation of things we may have seen, heard, or encountered during the day. Often, those sensory experiences are loosely and randomly connected together in a dream sequence that may not have any other meaning. I am pretty sure I saw something on television about zombies before going to bed.
Yet, a dream about kissing someone can be troubling, especially if it is someone that you do not have an intimate relationship with, in real life. You may even feel a sense of guilt or perhaps intrigue by this secret embrace even though it was just in a dream.
Christians often turn to the Bible for answers when they are troubled because they believe it is a divine revelation from God. So, does the Bible specifically address this question about the meaning of a kiss in your dream? Most of the kisses mentioned in the Bible are not intimate and passionate kisses, unless you are reading the Song of Solomon: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is more delightful than wine” (Song of Solomon 1:2, CEV). Instead, they are often platonic signs of affection much like a modern handshake, a hug, or a quick cheek to cheek exchange. In a few instances, a kiss was used as an act of betrayal, the most famous being the kiss of Judas upon the cheek of Jesus on the night before the crucifixion: Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. (Matthew 26:48-49, NIV).
In the Old Testament, a military commander named Joab used the ploy of a friendly kiss to stab his rival: Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died (2 Samuel 20:9-10 – NIV).
There is also the warning in the Book of Proverbs of the adulterous woman who lures an unsuspecting man into her bed: She took hold of him and kissed him and…with persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life (Proverbs 7:13, 21-23 – NIV).
So please heed this warning: Do not let your dreams and fantasies of kissing someone betray you. If the kiss in your dream was not sexual, do not take it as a sign that there should be a sexual connection to the person in real life. Most likely, your mind is simply acknowledging that this is someone that you care about.
If the kiss was more passionate and it was not with someone like a spouse or someone you are dating, then again, do not let that kissing dream betray you. Like that bird darting into a snare, you will lose all that you care about and value if you begin to dwell upon that kiss. Cast the thought from your mind.
Instead, consider if the dream is revealing to you an area of vulnerability in your relationship that needs your attention. Focus on strengthening the real and true relationship, not the false one of your dreams. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) tells us – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. If you are not careful, you may end up kissing a zombie – not really, but hopefully you get the idea. Proverbs 11:19 (NIV) says, “Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.”
Biblical Citations:
CEV – Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version, (American Bible Society, 1995).
NIV – Holy Bible: New International Version, (Biblica, Inc., 2011).
Dr. Richard Sams is a top Biblical and Religious educator, who holds a Doctor of Ministry degree (Evangelism and Church Growth emphasis) from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He has two masters’ degrees (Master of Divinity and Master of the Arts of Religion) from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg and also serves on the Pastoral Leadership Advisory Board of Liberty University. Moreover, Richard Sams has been serving as a pastor (Pastoral Ministry) at Calhoun Baptist Church in Calhoun, KY, from the past Nineteen years. He loves practically imparting biblical truths to the next generation, while occasionally conduct spiritual challenges on his facebook page facebook.com/MakeItCountChallenge