Many people bite their tongues, lips, or even inside of their cheeks both when awake and when asleep. Yet biting your tongue in your sleep can have meanings that span beyond science.
Some may simply attribute this behavior to a subconscious habit many people have. Yet cultures around the world also draw deeper meaning from biting your tongue in your sleep.
So, what is the true spiritual meaning of biting tongue in sleep? Does it symbolize something with respect to your life? What does the bible say about biting your tongue in sleep? Let us see..
Biting Tongue in sleep Spiritual meanings:
On the more psychological as opposed to spiritual end of the spectrum, your nocturnal tongue-biting may stem from subconscious thoughts. You may be more restless than you realize, with disturbing thoughts coming out while you are sleeping or dreaming. In this case, you may not only bite your tongue but actually chew on it.
This can leave you feeling confused when you wake up. Yet your habitual tongue biting may be a signal that there is more going on. It could be a signal that something is off-balance, and your concern is well justified, especially when it comes to relationships.
Spiritual Meaning #1: Gossip
According to folklore across many religions and cultures, if you bite your tongue while you’re sleeping it is an indicator that someone is talking about you. In fact, in Filipino lore, it is believed that picking a number from one to twenty-six as soon as you realize you’ve been biting your tongue will help you figure out who is gossiping about you.
It is believed that the number you pick corresponds to a letter in the alphabet that is the first initial of the person whose talk is causing you to bite your tongue in the first place. It is believed that the act of biting your tongue in your sleep is intended to alert you that someone is “wagging their tongue” and speaking badly about you behind your back.
Spiritual Meaning #2: Someone is being Dishonest with you
Another nefarious interpretation of someone biting their tongue in their sleep can mean that someone is being dishonest with you. If you need to be alerted that you are the victim of deceit and dishonesty, your intuition can work by leading you to bite your tongue in your sleep.
This interpretation is similar to the prior, that someone is talking about or gossiping about you. In this case, however, it is as if your intuition is telling you that someone else needs to “bite their tongue” in reference to how they are treating you.
Spiritual Meaning #3: Someone is Thinking About You
Another old tale that explains the reason for this behavior is far less negative. It is believed that if you bite your tongue in your sleep, it means someone is thinking about you. This can be interpreted as being favorable, as in a love interest who has you on their mind.
How will you know if the source of your nocturnal gnawing is innocent or something more sinister? You may not know at first. This is why it is important to look for symbols and cues that overlap.
Your intuition may show you that someone is thinking about you through various other signs and messages. Biting your tongue while you’re sleeping may just be the first catalyst that gets your attention.
Needing to “Bite Your Tongue” Biblical Meaning/References
The Bible speaks of the power of words through references to the tongue. Yet there are also several passages that reference the importance of silence, of proverbially “biting your tongue.”
Proverbs contain a line that is interpreted as “even a fool is considered wise if he bites his tongue.” Therefore, if you bite your tongue in your sleep, it may be a divine protective presence, like a Guardian Angel or your higher wisdom, leading you to be still and listen rather than speaking.
If you have been revealing too much information and your words could get you into trouble, you may end up biting your tongue as a way to signal that it is time to speak less and listen more. Don’t show the hand you intend to play. Biting your tongue in your sleep can be a message that you’re on the brink of giving away too much information and doing so can come back to “bite” you so to speak.
Other writings in Proverbs speak to the virtue of guarding your words and even blocking your tongue as a means of preventing the consequences of lies or harmful statements. Thus, biting your tongue in your sleep can be an indicator that you are being directed to hold back and not use your words to retaliate against or attack others.
Conclusion:
There may be many spiritual reasons a person bites their tongue while sleeping. One of the common beliefs related to this behavior is that it signals someone is talking about you, gossiping about you, or thinking of you.
Yet there are also folk beliefs about biting the tongue consciously as a way to gain greater control over your impulse to lash out verbally. Some Christians practice repeatedly biting their tongue while awake to train themselves to think before they speak.
Therefore, if you are biting your tongue during your sleep, it may be a signal that you’ve become to lose awareness of what you are saying. Your lack of discretion or judgment may hurt you in the long run, so biting your tongue is a signal to break this habit.
Featured Image: original photo via Flickr license.
Angela Kaufman is a Certified Intuitive Consultant, Psychic Medium, Intuitive Empowerment, Life Coach and an LCSW. She is an amazon published author and was Featured on several shows like Discovery Channel’s A Haunting, Echoes from the Past (2007) 14 Degrees: A Paranormal Documentary, Tune In to Wellness Today with LisaMarie Tersigni, and Empowering Entrepreneurs with Melissa Carter as well as numerous radio interviews. She is the author of Queen Up! Reclaim Your Crown When Life Knocks You Down - Unleash the Power of Your Inner Tarot Queen and also co-authored three books on metaphysical spirituality (Sacred Objects, Sacred Space; Everyday Tools for the Modern Day Witch | Wicca What's the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions | The Esoteric Dream Book; Mastering the Magickal Symbolism of the Subconscious Mind). Angela regularly conducts workshops, the Inner Queen coaching program and loves writing articles, that blend social criticism with spirituality.