I recently dreamed about being chased by a snake, and just when it was about to catch up with me, I woke up. This dream was so real that I decided to do a quick search online for the possible meanings.
The answers I got weren’t satisfactory, so I called my pastor for insight. He gave me some fascinating biblical meanings of being chased in a dream.
This event inspired me to do more research into all possible scenarios of being chased in dreams, and after reading a few dream books, I got all the information I needed. I then decided to write this article for others who have experienced similar dreams.
So, let’s take a look at the biblical meaning of being chased in a dream.
The Bible does not give any specific meaning to a dream about being chased. However, some people believe that such a dream signifies a spiritual attack or a spiritual battle. Others associate this dream with feelings of fear, feeling threatened, or trying to avoid something in real life. However, it is key to note that these are not biblical beliefs.
So, join me as I discuss the different interpretations linked to a dream about being chased. I will talk about what it means when you dream about being chased, the various specific dreams about being chased, and what they mean, and what one should do when they have such a dream.
Keep reading until the end to learn more.
What does it mean when you dream about being chased?
Avoidance
Many people believe that dreaming of being chased signifies one’s character of avoiding difficult situations in their waking life. That situation might need to be attended to, but instead of dealing with it, you are channeling your energy somewhere else.
According to this belief, you might also be avoiding this situation because you feel like you are inadequate to handle it effectively.
Close-minded
There are some people who love praise, always want their opinions to be accepted, and like being categorized as the best. Such people often have one problem: they find it hard to welcome the opinions of others as they always think they are right.
Therefore, it is believed that if you are such a person whose ego limits you from the self-realization path, you are most likely to have a dream of being chased.
Fear
Being chased in a dream is also associated with fear. It is believed that you might be scared of a situation or person in your waking life.
Women are most assumed to have more dreams of being chased compared to men as they are prone to such feelings of fear and unsafety.
Running away from oneself
Some people interpret a dream of being chased to mean that you might be trying to run away from an aspect of yourself in your waking life.
According to this belief, trying to corner away that aspect might result in suppressed feelings of sadness, anger, or even fear, which are believed to manifest in a dream.
You find it difficult to let go of old habits
Many people desire to be the best versions of themselves. But before reaching this step, you need to distance yourself from toxic patterns and habits from your past.
Having a dream of being chased is assumed to mean that you find it hard to give up on your old patterns despite how hard you try.
Such a dream is also said to mean that you need to feel positive and affirm yourself of the changes happening.
Spiritual reasons why you are dreaming about being chased
Spiritual battle
Some people believe that you might be dreaming of being chased because you are dealing with spiritual warfare, or there are high chances that you might encounter one soon.
They argue that the confusion, stress, and frustrations that come with dealing with such a battle are what is causing the dream of being chased to manifest.
Confrontation
Others posit that such a dream might occur if you have recently confronted the source of your anxiety and stress.
They believe you are done with running and want the result to stop whatever is overwhelming. Being in such a situation is linked to having dreams of someone chasing you.
You are avoiding your responsibilities
It is believed that you might have such a dream if you are running away from what you are supposed to accomplish.
For example, if you are required to complete a certain task and rather than focusing on it, you are neglecting or avoiding it, then it is believed that your actions might manifest in your dream.
Some people suggest you take time and complete the task, as destiny will not stop chasing you.
Biblical messages of dreaming about being chased
The scriptures do not give us any specific interpretation of a dream about being chased. Furthermore, there is no specific interpretation of this dream that is accepted universally by all traditions and cultures.
However, various meanings are linked to such a dream.
Being chased in a dream is linked to feelings of anxiety, fear, and feeling like something is threatening you in your waking life. Such a dream is also interpreted to reflect a desire to run from a difficult situation or something weighing you down.
Another biblical meaning attached to a dream about being chased is that a spiritual enemy might be trying to attack you in your waking life.
Some Christians believe that we fight some battles that we might not be aware of, so they manifest through visions and dreams.
So, they believe that it is key to look into such a dream with a certain seriousness and address the issue in real life.
Specific dreams about being chased and their biblical meanings
Dreaming about being chased by a bear
Most people believe encountering bears in a dream is not a bad sign. However, if you encounter them and they are chasing you, it is believed that you might be trying to escape from your problems in your waking life rather than dealing with them.
This dream is also interpreted to mean that it is time to let go of your past and deal with your current problems.
Other people interpret the dream of being chased by a bear to mean that you could be in some sort of danger or in a difficult period in your waking life.
Some people assume that a bear symbolizes a physical threat in a dream. Therefore, they believe that such a dream could be a warning and you need to look into it.
Dreaming about being chased by a snake
Dreams about being chased by a snake can be quite frightening. Such dreams are often associated with something that is happening in your waking life.
Some people interpret a dream of being chased by a snake to symbolize transformation and change.
Such a dream is said to be an indicator that you are undergoing a drastic change in your life. To other people, such a dream is interpreted to signify feelings of being endangered or threatened in your waking life.
In other cultures, dreams of being chased by a snake are interpreted as something fishy or sneaky that is trying to enter your life.
To others, such a dream is simply a reflection of your fear of snakes in your waking life. How you interpret this dream will be majorly determined by your culture and personal beliefs.
Dreaming about being chased by a dog
Dreaming about being chased by a dog is believed to suggest that you are always in a hurry. You hurry through everything and into anything.
On the contrary, if you dream about chasing a dog, it is believed that you are not afraid of taking risks. And if you did catch the dog in the dream, it is assumed that you are about to experience immense success in your waking life.
Dreaming about being chased by a stranger
Dreaming about being chased by a stranger is interpreted to mean that you are feeling threatened in your waking life, yet you cannot pinpoint what exactly is making you feel this way.
Other people assume that this dream symbolizes that you are either overthinking or just do not have confidence. To others, this dream signifies that you are having anxiety for no particular reason.
Dreaming about being chased and getting caught
Dreaming of being chased and caught is commonly interpreted to mean that you might be feeling trapped by a situation in your waking life.
Some people believe that having such a dream indicates that you might be feeling inadequate or less prepared about a particular situation in your life.
Dreaming about being chased and hiding
It is pretty common to dream about being chased and hiding. Such dreams are often associated with feelings of being insecure and anxious in your real life.
The chaser in the dream is regarded as a particular feeling (anxiety or fear), and the act of running and hiding is said to represent how you are coping or avoiding such feelings.
Such a dream can also be associated with larger issues in life, like relationship problems and career changes. Therefore, some people suggest that if you have such a dream, you should consider exploring issues in your life that might be causing you fear and anxiety and make changes.
Dreaming about being chased and getting bitten by a wild animal
Wild animals are associated with our deepest and hidden desires when they appear in a dream. The different interpretations of such a dream are determined by the exact animal that attacked you in your dream and the context of the dream.
For example, a dream of being chased and bitten by a wolf is interpreted to mean that something is either overwhelming or threatening you in your real life.
Some people suggest the need to tap into your inner resources and strength to face the difficult situation that you might be in.
Dreaming about being chased by the police
The dream about being chased by the police has different interpretations depending on the context of the dream. A dream about escaping the police is interpreted to mean that you might actually be facing some legal issues in your waking life and are afraid of the police arresting you.
If you dream of the police chasing you and they actually catch you, it is interpreted to mean that you might be feeling guilty about something you did in the past, and you believe that you need to be punished for it.
Other people believe that police appearing in a dream reflects the challenges we undergo in waking life. They, therefore, interpret a dream of being chased by the police to mean that problems might come your way in the upcoming days.
Dreaming about being chased by a mad man
A mad man in a dream is usually associated with rage and anger. Madmen are also said to represent the sides of ourselves that we are ashamed of, those that we find either dangerous or unappealing.
Therefore, dreaming about being chased by a madman is interpreted to symbolically represent something that is endangering your well-being or safety in your waking life.
Furthermore, this dream is also interpreted depending on its context. If you dream about being chased by a madman and you manage to outrun him and escape, it is interpreted to signify that you will overcome whatever issue the mad man symbolically represents in your waking life.
If he catches you and maybe harms you, it is said to mean that you will not be able to effectively handle the issue at hand.
Dreaming about being chased by a killer
Dreaming of being chased by a killer is seen as a reflection of the anxiety and stress you are currently dealing with in your waking life. It is believed that if you are feeling overwhelmed in your real life, you might experience scary dreams like this.
Should I be worried about dreaming about being chased?
Dreaming of being chased, especially if it ends with you being caught or almost being caught, can induce so much anxiety in you.
As seen above, most of the interpretations revolving around such dreams are linked to increased anxiety and stress in our waking life, or the dreamer is trying to run away from a situation that they are supposed to solve.
Therefore, though you might wake up worried and frightened from such a dream, you shouldn’t let the worry consume you.
God reassures us in the book of Philippians 4:5-6 to not worry about anything but bring every petition to him through prayer: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
What should I do after dreaming about being chased?
Several dream interpreters and psychologists recommend meditating and taking time to reflect on such a dream, most if you wake up feeling anxious and worried.
Others believe that it is key to introspect the dream and try to connect it to your waking life to get a better interpretation of it.
However, God reminds us in the book of Proverbs 3:5 to not depend on our own understanding but instead trust in God.
Therefore, as Christians, it is key to pray for wisdom and discernment after having such a dream to know whether God is trying to communicate to us (James 1:5).
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
