I am not one to take naps in the middle of the day. However, a few days ago, I decided to take a power nap to rejuvenate. The moment I closed my eyes, I began running away from an ostrich.
This gigantic bird obviously caught up with me and began attacking me. Instead of getting revitalized, I woke up tired and terrified.
Still panting, I took my laptop and searched for why one would dream of being chased by an ostrich despite not having been to the zoo or any bird-related event online.
This casual search revealed some interesting interpretations. Intrigued, I made an abrupt trip to my friend who is a dream interpreter, who interpreted the dream in detail.
Inspired by these events, I wrote this post to reach a broader readership. So, let us embark on unraveling the biblical meaning of ostrich in a dream.
Though the Bible does not mention dreaming about an ostrich, this bird appears severally in the Bible. It is in the Law of Moses and the books of prophets. In Deuteronomy 14:15, the Bible says that the ostrich is an unclean bird and must not be eaten. In Isaiah 34:13, the Bible says that the ostrich dwells in places of hardship. In Jeremiah 50:39, the Bible says that the ostrich lives in deserts. Because of the Bible’s depiction of the ostrich as a troubled bird in those scriptures, some Bible scholars speculate that seeing the ostrich in a dream is a prophetic sign of desolation. However, some theologians suggest that you must account for all the elements of the dream in the interpretation.
In this article, I welcome you to join me as we investigate the biblical meaning of ostrich in a dream. On top of that, I highlight common dreams that feature the ostrich, along with their interpretations.
As you read along, you will find the answers to these questions and more.
Symbolic meaning and significance of an ostrich in the Bible
It is crucial to clarify that the word “ostrich” does not appear consistently in all Bible translations. A translation like the New International Version uses the term “horned owl,” whereas the New King James Version calls it “ostrich.”
The Bible says in Deuteronomy 14:15 that the ostrich is among the unclean birds God instructed Israelites not to eat: “the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after their kinds.”
Accordingly, some Bible scholars conclude that an ostrich symbolizes spiritual uncleanliness.
In Job 39:13-18, the Bible states several character traits of the ostrich. The Bible says that while the ostrich walks proudly, it lacks love in its heart.
The Bible adds that the ostrich is irresponsible with her eggs and does little to protect them from predators. The Bible also says that the ostrich is a cruel mother who handles her children like someone else’s children.
Lastly, the Bible says that the ostrich is foolish by design because God made them like that.
Therefore, some Bible scholars associate the ostrich with undesirable personality traits like foolishness, cruelty, and irresponsibility. Others theorize that the ostrich symbolizes poor judgment skills.
In Lamentations 4:3, the Bible echoes Job’s sentiments regarding the ostrich: “Even the jackals present their breasts
To nurse their young; But the daughter of my people is cruel, Like ostriches in the wilderness.”
The Bible says in that verse that the ostrich is the worst example of a mother because she is outstandingly cruel to her children.
Some Bible scholars speculate that, based on this verse, the ostrich in the Bible symbolizes a cruel mother. Others speculate that the ostrich symbolizes life in the wilderness since that is where it stays.
Some Bible scholars put together all the depictions of the ostrich in the Bible to hypothesize their significance in the Bible. They speculate that the ostrich is a cautionary sign of a person a believer must not become.
They believe that the ostrich, as depicted in the Bible, is a sum of all the vices believers must shun.
Meaning of dreaming about an ostrich
Some people theorize that this dream means that your subconscious mind is telling you to re-evaluate the way you live. They further theorize that this dream is a sign that you should make decisions that will give you progress in life.
Others speculate that this dream suggests that your subconscious mind is encouraging you to believe more in your abilities.
Some dream analysts hypothesize that when you dream about an ostrich, your dream features themes like freedom, protection, and insight.
They theorize that the dream suggests that you should be more insightful even while you seek freedom. Others posit that if you have this dream when embarking on a journey of self-discovery, you should be careful to make wise decisions along the way.
Some dream interpreters believe that an ostrich symbolizes power, strength, and independence in dreams. They speculate that this dream is a sign that you should stand tall against your opponents.
Others hypothesize that this dream indicates that you should adopt a lifestyle that ensures you do not over-rely on others. Some are of the opinion that this dream suggests that you are already self-sufficient but lack trust in yourself.
They conclude that this dream suggests that you should trust your gut instincts, for they will not fail you.
Some people believe that dreaming about an ostrich is a message to yourself to face reality. They speculate that this dream comes to you when, in your waking life, you are avoiding certain facts.
They further hypothesize that this dream suggests that you are living in a bubble and it is time to be more practical in your waking life.
Some dream analysts believe that dreaming about an ostrich is a sign that you should be more ruthless with your personal space.
They hypothesize that since an ostrich is cruel, seeing it in a dream suggests that you should ask people to respect the boundaries you have set.
Some further posit that if you have no boundaries in waking life, this dream suggests that you should set some before it is too late.
Spiritual reasons why you are dreaming about an ostrich
A need to be alert
Some dream interpreters speculate that the spiritual meaning of dreaming about an ostrich is that it is a warning to be cautious in your waking life.
They hypothesize that an ostrich is typically excellent at blending with its environment to avoid detection.
Therefore, they reason that seeing an ostrich in a dream is a sign that your enemy has gotten close to you, and it is hard for you to detect them.
Hidden potential
Some people are of the opinion that ostriches symbolize undiscovered resources. They hypothesize that the ostrich often lays eggs in large quantities, so it is hard to find all of them.
Therefore, they speculate that an ostrich in your dream is a sign that you need to work harder because you have not reached your full potential yet.
Others believe that this dream suggests that you should search yourself for any talents and abilities you have not tested yet.
They suppose that this dream indicates that you have a valuable talent lying idle simply because you have not discovered it yet.
Personal flaws
Some dream analysts believe that the spiritual reason you see an ostrich in your dreams is to reveal to you your flaws. They speculate that the ostrich is a bird with many flaws, among them being foolishness and indecisiveness at a time of trouble.
They theorize that when you dream about an ostrich, it is a reminder to address your weaknesses before they negatively impact your life.
A need for protection
Some spiritual experts believe that the spiritual reason why you are seeing an ostrich in your dream is because you feel a need for protection in your waking life.
They speculate that you are feeling vulnerable in your waking life, and it is now manifesting through the dream. Therefore, they consider this dream a reminder to seek a more peaceful and secure environment than where you are currently.
Biblical meaning of encountering an ostrich in your dreams
A symbol of doom
The Bible uses an ostrich as a symbol of doom in several prophecies, like in Micah 1:8, where the prophet foretells a moment of mourning in Israel: “Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches.”
In Jeremiah 50:39, the Bible uses the ostrich as a symbol of the inhabitants of a desolate place. In Isaiah 43:19-21, the Bible says that the ostrich is such a wild bird that it dwells with other wild animals.
Here, the Bible says that these animals are so wild that having them honor God is a spectacular, miraculous sign. Some Bible scholars use these verses to put forth a theory that encountering an ostrich in your dream is a prophetic sign of a coming loss.
Foreshadowing alienation
Some theologians speculate that the ostrich is a sign of isolation from society. The Bible says in Job 30:29 that Job’s community alienated him so much that he felt his life paralleled ostrich’s: “I am a brother of jackals, And a companion of ostriches.”
Therefore, some Bible scholars are of the opinion that seeing an ostrich in your dream suggests that some unfortunate event will happen in your life and isolate you from your friends and family.
Others support this view with Job 39:13-18, where the Bible says that the ostrich’s proud wings are no symbol of love.
Therefore, these Bible scholars hypothesize that encountering an ostrich in your dream indicates that you will experience cruelty from people close to you.
A rough, fresh start
Some Bible scholars posit that an ostrich is known for its infamous approach to a fresh start, referencing Lamentations 4:1-3: “How the gold has become dim! How changed the fine gold! The stones of the sanctuary are scattered At the head of every street. The precious sons of Zion, Valuable as fine gold, How they are regarded as clay pots, The work of the hands of the potter!”
They say that an ostrich can destroy her nest and move elsewhere to start a new life without caring about the safety of any remaining eggs.
Thus, some Bible scholars speculate that encountering an ostrich in your dream implies that you may experience an unfortunate event that will force you to start afresh painfully.
Specific dreams about encountering an ostrich and their biblical meanings
Dreaming of an ostrich biting me
The Bible does not say what this dream means. However, some dream interpreters speculate that dreaming of an ostrich biting you is a sign that you are provoking a harmless person, and you will not like the results if they retaliate.
These thinkers hypothesize that even though the ostrich is flightless, it can defend itself ferociously if pushed. Therefore, the interpreters suggest that you should take a step back from any altercations you have in your waking life.
Dreaming of a dead ostrich
The Bible does not explain the meaning of a dead ostrich in your dreams. However, some dream analysts speculate that a dead ostrich in your dreams is a sign that something unpleasant, with the capacity to influence the course of your life, will happen.
Others hypothesize that a dead ostrich in your dream suggests that your past thoughtless actions will lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Dreaming of an ostrich chasing me
The Bible does not say specifically what dreaming of an ostrich chasing you means. However, some people believe that this dream suggests that you are struggling with a hidden fear and anxiety in your waking life.
Some dream interpreters say this dream supposes that you should relax and focus on what matters so that you do not feel overwhelmed in your waking life.
Dreaming of an ostrich attacking me
The Bible does not explain what this dream means exactly. Some dream interpreters believe that this dream suggests that you feel out of control in some area of your life.
They speculate that the ostrich represents something in your life that is making you feel powerless.
Dreaming of an ostrich putting his head in the sand
The Bible does not say what this dream means exactly. However, some dream analysts say that this dream is a sign that you are trying to avoid a problem you should confront.
They speculate an ostrich often buries its head when it is in danger. They say that, in the same way, this dream suggests that you are trying to avoid an issue you should solve decisively in your waking life.
Dreaming of a black ostrich
The Bible does not say what dreaming of a black ostrich means. However, some dream interpreters say that seeing a black ostrich in your dream suggests that you will receive bad news.
They speculate that you should take this dream as an indication to prepare for any unexpected occurrences in your life.
Dreaming of a white ostrich
The Bible does not specify what it means to dream of a white ostrich. However, some dream analysts posit that seeing a white ostrich is a sign that you tend to misjudge people even before you get to know them.
They conclude that this dream represents a piece of advice to be accommodative when interacting with new people, always giving them reasonable benefits of the doubt.
Dreaming of a flock of ostriches
The Bible does not say precisely what this particular dream means. However, some dream interpreters believe that this dream is an indication of abundance over your life.
They hypothesize that dreaming of a flock of ostriches suggests that your hard work and determination will soon give you overwhelming results.
Superstitions and meanings of ostriches in different cultures and religions
Ancient Egypt
Some historians believe that ancient Egyptians perceived the ostrich as a symbol of strength, divinity, freedom, and transformation. They speculate that the Egyptians base their belief on the ostrich’s lifestyle.
For example, they claim that the ostrich can navigate diverse terrains, which is a sign of power. Others speculate that the ostrich lays many eggs and symbolizes abundance.
Still, some speculate that the ancient Egyptians considered the flightless wings of ostrich significant. They believe ancient Egyptians held that the wings symbolized sheer determination to break through barriers.
Celtic
Some cultural scholars believe that the ostrich held a significant cultural symbol of strength and symbolism to the ancient Celtics.
They also posit that, in the spiritual realm, the ostrich represented a resilient guide that could overcome all kinds of barriers.
It is also believed that the Celtic folklore uses the ostrich as a representation of the ability to overcome hardships gracefully.
Native American beliefs
Native Americans associate the ostrich with the freedom, courage, and ability to overcome life’s hardship graciously.
The Native Americans believe that the ostrich is a reminder to maintain an open mind, accept new life situations, and adapt to them.
Furthermore, it is believed that Native Americans consider the ostrich as a lesson that we can only achieve true freedom if we embrace our individuality.
Islam
In Islam, it is believed that the ostrich holds a significant spiritual symbolism of human traits. For example, some Islam scholars speculate that the ostrich represents fear and avoidance.
They hypothesize that the ostrich represents a fear of facing difficult situations decisively. Some Islamic scholars believe that the ostrich is a sign of deceit.
They speculate that the ostrich is reputable for “camouflaging” in her environment to avoid detection.
African Traditional heritage
In some African communities, it is believed that the ostrich is a significant cultural symbol representing courage and wisdom.
Some African studies scholars believe that, in many African societies, the ostrich teaches people to learn to face their fears boldly.
They also speculate that the ostrich offers a valuable lesson in African societies to break social barriers in pursuit of their destiny.
What should I do if I dream about an ostrich?
Most dream analysts posit that when you dream about an ostrich, you should consider the dream’s immediate context in your waking life.
They say that while these dreams do not always suggest bad omens, it is crucial that you take action, as your interpretation suggests.
However, if you are a Christian, you know that you can always pray to God for discernment. The Bible says in James 1:5 that God will give you wisdom generously, and you only have to ask.
As a theologian, I have always been curious to learn more about the Christian Faith. That is why I pursued a Certificate in Christian Studies, Certificate in Christian Foundations and a Masters in Theology. I also have an immersive experience in editing for numerous websites. I have worked as an editor for over a decade and am currently the editor-in-chief at Christian Faith Guide. I enjoy working as an editor and feel privileged to share my expertise and help spread God’s word. You can read more about me on the about us page.
