Bow and Arrow Symbols
Based on Bow and Arrow Dream
I was running around with a bow, searching for arrows. My father was with me and interrogating me, though I don’t recall what it was about. A young boy was also helping us find arrows. We were in a wrecked or broken building where everything was shattered.
End of dream
Continue reading here: Bow and Arrow Dream
When interpreting your dreams, context is very important. Bow and arrows are used figuratively and literally in the Bible.
Praying about your dream is a way in which God will begin to speak and reveal his plans. If the enemy is attacking you, prayer gives you confidence and strength in the midst of your trial.
Prayer is your “bow” and the Word of God is your “arrow.” The dream is your prayer strategy and promise:
Verses to use against the enemy:
Are you on the offense or defense in the dream?
Offense: It is an indicator of your confidence in God. Attack! “You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.” Psalm 18:39
“Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me.” Genesis 27:3
Defense: Rebuke the enemy, for he is near. “ For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12
Victory: God will do what he says and his word will go forth where he sends it. No man can divert God’s words and ways. “Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. “Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.” 2 Kings 13:17
“For I am raising up an army of great nations from the north. They will join forces to attack Babylon, and she will be captured. The enemies’ arrows will go straight to the mark; they will not miss!” Jeremiah 50:9
Confusion: It can represent what your enemies are wielding at you, i.e., You do not have to walk in confusion. God is not the creator of confusion, the devil is. I Corinthians 14:32
God kills the chaos and/or redirects it back at the enemy. Again, what’s the context of the dream? “He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused.” Psalm 18:14
“Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies! Shoot your arrows and confuse them!” Psalm 144:6
How do you “hurl your arrows and lightening bolts?” Prayer!
Control your tongue: Harassment from others cuts deep. They sting. Arrows of uncontrolled words are unpredictable. Be careful how far your words may go. When it’s a time to speak, God uses our words to pierce the heart with love and gentleness, not to sting and hate. If it wasn’t “time to speak” and it was a “time to be silent,” your aim may not have hit the intended target in love.
“They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows.” Psalm 64:3
“For their tongues shoot lies like poisoned arrows. They speak friendly words to their neighbors while scheming in their heart to kill them.” Jeremiah 9:8
“Archers attacked him savagely; they shot at him and harassed him.” Genesis 49:23
Conviction: “He shot his arrows deep into my heart.” Lamentations 3:13
Deliverance: “The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.” Psalm 77:17-20
Protection for pastors: “He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.” Isaiah 49:2
Gun: If a gun is in the dream, the arrow would more than likely be at a disadvantage. In the positive sense, the arrow is the enemy, because the arrow is less powerful.
The bow and arrow are a ready weapon for God’s children in spiritual warfare. A silent kill. “Their arrows will be sharp and their bows ready for battle. Sparks will fly from their horses’ hooves, and the wheels of their chariots will spin like a whirlwind.” Isaiah 5:28
A Christian warrior with a bow and arrow against the enemy can be confident, swift, and go in with a silent kill. Know that the enemy can “try” to make a silent kill against you. When you have the Holy Spirit, the Lord will give you discernment to know the enemies presence and tactics. You don’t need to be caught unaware. He can’t do nothing to you that God does not approve.
God has given you the dream for a reason. He will guide you on how to use it to “strike” the enemy down during the day. “Strike” is through prayer, the Word of God, and love.
Keep the Armor of God on. Picture yourself wearing it. Pray and praise God that when the enemies arrows are thrown, they cannot penetrate you. They will slide off your “breastplate,” like oil or God will send them back where they came from. I don’t like the thought of the latter, but it makes me think twice before I say and do something that would hurt others. I don’t like the thought that the arrows I wielded would come back on me. Even as I type this. the Holy fear of God grips me. “Search my heart O’ God.” Psalm 139:23-24
If you have an example of a bow and arrow in a dream, or have questions, please comment below.
See Dream Tips and Tools some basic Biblical guidelines for dream interpretation. More to come.
Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash
