What does חֲלוֹם (ḥălwōm) mean in the Bible?
חֲלוֹם (ḥălwōm) is a Hebrew word meaning "a dream".
Hebrew · H2472
חֲלוֹם
A dream
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
חֲלוֹם H2472
Pronunciation ḥălwōm
What does חֲלוֹם (ḥălwōm) mean in the Bible?
חֲלוֹם (ḥălwōm) is a Hebrew word meaning "a dream".
Full entry for חֲלוֹם (H2472) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2472?
The BSB source-word alignment has 65 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (13), in a dream (6), a dream (4), The dreams (4), dreams (3).
Where does חֲלוֹם (ḥălwōm) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 20:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (34), Jeremiah (6), Daniel (5), Deuteronomy (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It . . . 13× Genesis 37:5, Genesis 37:6, Genesis 37:9, Genesis 37:19
in a dream 6× Genesis 20:3, Genesis 31:10, Genesis 31:24, Numbers 12:6
a dream 4× Genesis 41:15, 1 Kings 3:15, Ecclesiastes 5:3, Jeremiah 23:28
The dreams 4× Genesis 41:25, Genesis 41:26, Jeremiah 23:27, Jeremiah 29:8
dreams 3× Ecclesiastes 5:7, Jeremiah 23:32, Zechariah 10:2
his dreams 3× Genesis 41:8, Genesis 42:9, Daniel 2:2
In my dream 3× Genesis 40:9, Genesis 41:17, Genesis 41:22
by dreams 2× 1 Samuel 28:6, 1 Samuel 28:15
his dream 2× Genesis 37:8, Genesis 40:9
I had a dream 2× Genesis 41:15, Judges 7:13
like a dream 2× Job 20:8, Isaiah 29:7
the dream 2× Genesis 41:32, Judges 7:15
[it] 1× Jeremiah 23:28
[them] 1× Genesis 41:12
about a dream 1× Judges 7:13
and dreams 1× Daniel 1:17
and each dream 1× Genesis 40:5
dream 1× Genesis 41:11
from a dream 1× Psalms 73:20
had a dream 1× Genesis 40:16
I have had a dream 1× Daniel 2:3
In that dream 1× Genesis 31:11
in the dream 1× Genesis 20:6
it 1× Daniel 2:3
it was a dream 1× Genesis 41:7
of dreams 1× Deuteronomy 13:1
of his dreams 1× Genesis 37:20
We both had dreams 1× Genesis 40:8
with dreams 1× Job 7:14
you have had 1× Genesis 37:10
your interpreters of dreams 1× Jeremiah 27:9
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 20:3 בַּחֲל֣וֹם to in a dream Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Genesis 20:6 בַּחֲלֹ֗ם to in the dream Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Genesis 31:10 בַּחֲל֑וֹם to in a dream Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Genesis 31:11 בַּחֲל֖וֹם to In that dream Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Genesis 31:24 בַּחֲלֹ֣ם to in a dream Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular construct Genesis 37:5 חֲל֔וֹם to . . . Noun - masculine singular Genesis 37:6 הַחֲל֥וֹם to . . . Article | Noun - masculine singular Genesis 37:8 חֲלֹמֹתָ֖יו to his dream Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Genesis 37:9 חֲל֣וֹם to . . . Noun - masculine singular Genesis 37:9 חֲלוֹם֙ to . . . Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 20:3
Aligned rows 65
Books represented 14
Genesis 34 Numbers 1 Deuteronomy 3 Judges 3 1 Samuel 2 1 Kings 2 Job 3 Psalms 1 Ecclesiastes 2 Isaiah 1 Jeremiah 6 Daniel 5 Joel 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
חֲל֣וֹם 5x ḥă·lō·wm Genesis 37:9, Genesis 40:8, Genesis 41:15, Judges 7:13
חֲל֑וֹם 3x ḥă·lō·wm Deuteronomy 13:1, Judges 7:13, 1 Kings 3:15
בַּחֲל֣וֹם 2x ba·ḥă·lō·wm Genesis 20:3, 1 Kings 3:5
בַּחֲל֖וֹם 2x ba·ḥă·lō·wm Genesis 31:11, Numbers 12:6
הַחֲל֥וֹם 2x ha·ḥă·lō·wm Genesis 37:6, Genesis 37:10
הַחֲל֛וֹם 2x ha·ḥă·lō·wm Genesis 41:32, Judges 7:15
הַחֲל֖וֹם 2x ha·ḥă·lō·wm Deuteronomy 13:3, Ecclesiastes 5:3
חֲל֔וֹם 2x ḥă·lō·wm Genesis 37:5, Jeremiah 23:28
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular 17x Genesis 37:5, Genesis 37:9, Genesis 40:5, Genesis 40:8
Article | Noun - masculine singular 8x Genesis 37:6, Genesis 37:10, Genesis 41:32, Deuteronomy 13:3
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular 7x Genesis 20:3, Genesis 20:6, Genesis 31:10, Genesis 31:11
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 5x Genesis 40:5, Genesis 40:9, Genesis 41:8, Genesis 41:11
Noun - masculine plural 3x Ecclesiastes 5:7, Daniel 2:1, Joel 2:28
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular 3x Genesis 37:8, Genesis 37:20, Daniel 2:2
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural 3x 1 Samuel 28:6, 1 Samuel 28:15, Job 7:14
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular 3x Genesis 40:16, Genesis 41:17, Genesis 41:22
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. a dream
Source Gloss
a dream
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
a dream BDB: dream Usage: dream(-er).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Joseph's dreams reveal future dominion, causing family conflict and jealousy
Pharaoh's dreams of famine interpreted by Joseph as divine revelation of future events
Visions and dreams as fleeting, illusory experiences lacking substance or reality
False prophets claim dreams as divine authority, contrasted with God's authentic word
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 64 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain