Dreaming of fish in the Bible: meaning
The fish is one of the oldest Christian signs. Jesus called his disciples fishers of men, and early Christians drew a fish as a secret sign of recognition. A fish in a dream is often read in the tradition as faith, calling or abundance.
Within this tradition
Several of Jesus's disciples were fishermen. When he calls Peter and Andrew, he says: come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. From the start the fish is thus linked with calling. A dream in which you fish or catch fish can be read along those lines as a question about what you are called to.
In the gospels Jesus feeds thousands with a few loaves and two fish, and after the resurrection he helps the disciples catch a net full of fish, a hundred and fifty-three large fish, without the net tearing. In those stories fish stand for abundance that comes from God: more than you could have caught yourself.
Early Christians used the Greek word for fish, ichthys, as an acronym for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. A simple drawing of a fish served as a sign of recognition in times of persecution. You still see the little fish on cars and necklaces today.
And then there is Jonah, swallowed by a great fish and brought back to land after three days. A dream in which a fish swallows you can thus be read as a dark period from which rescue comes. As always, the tradition tests the dream against Scripture, prayer and people you trust.
Common variations
Fishing or catching fish
Can be read as calling, in the line of fishers of men.
A net full of fish
Abundance that comes from God, as in the miraculous catch.
Being swallowed by a great fish
The story of Jonah: a dark period from which rescue comes.
Sharing bread and fish
Recalls the multiplication: a little that turns out to be enough for many.
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Write your dream in the appFrequently asked questions
What does the fish mean in Christianity?
Calling, as in fishers of men; abundance, as with the loaves and fish; and the old sign of recognition ichthys: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.
Is a dream about fish a message from God?
Dreamkin does not say so. The tradition tests such questions through prayer, Scripture and people you trust.