The Spiritual Meaning Of Swimming In A Dream According To The Bible

If you have been seeing yourself swimming in dreams, we have written here for you the biblical meaning of swimming in a dream.
Biblical Meaning Of Swimming In A Dream

Finding yourself swimming in the dream may come with a weird feeling; you might have woken up confused concerning what such a dream means. Since you're currently reading this Christian dream interpretation, I believe there won't be any further confusion concerning the meaning of your dream. Sit tight as we explore the biblical meaning of swimming in a dream. 

Swimming in the dream happens to be one of the most common dreams seen by both Christians and non-Christians. Finding oneself swimming in a dream shouldn't be seen as a strange thing, because very many other people out there also dream about swimming daily. 

Some people have seen themselves swimming in their dreams on a few occasions, but for others, these dreams happen to be recurring. When a swimming dream keeps on repeating itself, it is time to pay careful attention.

If you've found yourself swimming in the dream a couple of times—and the dream didn't really come off as a “bad dream”, there is nothing to worry about. But if you frequently see yourself swimming in your dreams, something definitely isn't right about those dreams. It is important that you find out what such a dream means and get a solution for it. 

Isaiah 43:1-2 NIV
But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Because different people see different kinds of swimming dreams, to carter for most of such dreams, in this dream interpretation, we will touch on the following:

  • Dream of swimming in water
  • Dreaming of fish swimming
  • Dream of swimming with dolphins
  • Dream of swimming with sharks
  • Dream about swimming in a river with someone

I have noticed that most of those who reach out me concerning a swimming dream they saw, always come with a preconceived notion that their swimming dream is evil, requiring ing deliverance. But I'll like you to understand that, contrary to what you may have been told, not all swimming dreams are bad dreams.

Dreams about swimming can either be a good or bad omen. It mostly depends on the source of the dream. Some swimming dreams are prophetic dreams from God—given by the Holy Spirit. While some others may be a form of spiritual attack from the enemy.

How does this really work? Read on and you will understand as we progress.

Biblical Meaning Of Swimming In A Dream


Swimming is an activity of moving one's body through water, using the limbs. Because the earth's surface is made up of more than 70% water, swimming becomes a necessity.

Apart from man, almost all animals have inherent ability to swim—the Creator made it that way. Swimming can either be done as a sport, for survival (in times of emergency), or for recreation.

Everyone has the innate ability to swim, but not everyone has learned to use this ability. Being able to swim will require learning how to swim, attaining mastery in it, and then it becomes a skill.

Swimming often requires that the swimmer propels their body through water. No one jumps in the water for the first time and starts swimming automatically. One has to learn to move their body against the gravity in the water—which acts quite differently from what we have on land. This alone can be likened to pressing forward in the midst of challenges. 

Life itself is challenging. You have to wake up every day and push through every form of discouragement and fatigue, to do what you're supposed to do.

Most times when people dream and find themselves struggling to swim, it is a reflection of what is happening in their waking life. They are having a hard time sailing through the daily huddles of life. They lack the energy and courage to push through the diverse phases of their life—to get to where God wants them to be.

Also, in most dreams where the dreamer finds out that they did not experience any difficulty swimming, it is often a sign that they are determined to push through and overcome every hindrance they are faced with in every stage of their life, to walk in their purpose.

That being said, it is apparent that not all swimming dreams are bad and demonic dreams (like some have made it out to be). 

Some of these dreams may be God showing you your level of progress in life; the things that act as hindrances to your progress and what you could possibly do to overcome them.

Isaiah 43:2 NKJV
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

In the above scripture, the Lord promised us that when we pass through the waters (and rivers), He will be with us.

Passing through waters is naturally challenging. You cannot walk with your legs through a river, except it is very shallow and still. You have to be a good swimmer lest you drown.

The symbols of “water” and “river” in the above scripture were obviously intentionally used by God to let us know that He will be with us in times of problems and difficulties; that He will protect and guide us safely out of them. 

Swimming in the dream may simply reflect the challenges you are going through in your waking life. If you had a hard time swimming in your dream, it is likely that you are facing difficult situations in your waking life.

But be reminded that the Almighty said He will help you. So go on and ask for His help. Trust Him to show up and take you by the hand, as He leads you safely out of troubling waters.

Spiritual Meaning Of Swimming In A Dream


The same way humans do swim in streams, rivers, swimming pools and ponds etc, people often find themselves swimming in different kinds of waters in their dreams.

But the location or body of water in which the swimming was done in the dream, doesn't really matter as much as the nature of the water itself.

What characteristics did you notice concerning the water? Was it a still water or flowing water on high current? Was the water clean, dirty or murky?

If you found yourself swimming in clean water, you shouldn't be worried as much as finding yourself swimming in murky water in your dreams.

Most dreams of swimming in clean and clear water are from God. While dreams of swimming in dirty and murky water are often an indication of a serious spiritual problem in the life of the dreamer, or an attack from the enemy against the dreamer.

1. Dreams Of Swimming Symbolize Challenges 


There are swimming dreams that are very normal. They only show up to let the dreamer see what is currently happening in their life (which they cannot see while awake). 

Example of such a swimming dream is a dream of experiencing difficulties swimming in water. Such a dream often comes to let the dreamer know that although they are currently being faced with serious life problems, Heaven is aware of what they are going through, and God is willing to lend them a helping hand. 

Psalm 91:15 NIV
He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

If you prayed thoroughly after waking up from such a dream, some other day, you may see another dream where you were swimming effortlessly and got on land without difficulty. 

This is often an indication that God has answered your prayers, you received His help and He has taken you out of your troubling waters.

In your waking life, you will begin to have miraculous solutions to the problems that plagued your life. Peace and joy will be restored back to your life. 

2. Dreams Of Swimming Symbolize Baptism In The Holy Spirit


On several occasions in the Holy Bible, the Holy Spirit is likened to water. We know that baptism is simply immersion in water. But John the Baptist went on to prophesy that the One (Jesus) who comes after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 3:11 BSB
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but after me is coming He who is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to carry the sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 

Most times, baptism involves dipping or submerging in a liquid. John the Baptist baptized by immersion. If our Lord Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit, then the process is similar: He immerses us in His Holy Spirit. 

The Prophet Ezekiel described the baptism of the Holy Spirit as sprinkling of water on an individual, which brings about cleansing from sin and infilling of the Holy Spirit. 

Ezekiel 36:25-26 ESV
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 

Again, here is what our Lord Jesus Christ spoke concerning the Holy Spirit:

John 7:37-39 BSB
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ” He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

There are very many other scriptures that describe the Holy Spirit as river or water. So let's not be quick to attribute every swimming dream to the devil. 

If you have been praying for the infilling or reception of the Holy Spirit, seeing yourself immersed or swimming in clean water in your dream, may simply mean that your prayer has been answered, and you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. This may as well soon manifest in your waking life.

3. Operating Effortessly In The Things Of The Spirit 


Seeing yourself swimming without hassles in your dream, could also point to spiritual activities like operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, prophesying or rendering any form of service to God. 

Every genuine ministry is simply the Holy Spirit operating through a vessel. So if a genuine Christian or minister of the Gospel finds theirself swimming in a clean and calm water in their dream, such a dream doesn't symbolise anything evil, but what God is doing in and through them. 

Dreaming Of Swimming In The Ocean


If you've once seen a dream about swimming in the ocean, but there was nothing like dirt in the water or you were not faced with any difficulty swimming, then you shouldn't be worried. 

But if you constantly found yourself swimming in the oceans and having strange experiences in such dreams, then something definitely is not right about those dreams

There are people who reportedly see recurring dreams of swimming in the ocean, even to the extent of reaching the underwater and finding other people, cities or a strange civilizations. Such dreams are not from God. As a matter of fact, that is one of the dreams the dreamer should get delivered from. 

If you are one of those who always have disturbing dreams about swimmingmeeting, eating with and conversing with other people inside the river, you have to understand that these dreams are triggered by marine spirits. 

Such are often very serious dreams that signify the presence of evil covenants with water spirits, which needs to be destroyed as soon as possible—before the dreamer’s life get ruined.

If this sounds like your situation, you can either go for deliverance from the hand of a Spirit-filled servant of God, or make up your mind to fast and pray consistently, until you gain your total deliverance. See this article on deliverance from spirit husband/wife

It is true that not all dreams about swimming in the ocean are bad dreams. But if you notice that such dreams keep repeating and seem not to go away, it is obvious that you have been ignorantly initiated into the marine spirit coven. You need urgent deliverance. 

Dream About Swimming In A River With Someone


Dreams of swimming in a river with someone is rarely a good omen. Oftentimes, the one the dreamer sees swimming with in their dream is the evil spirit they have been entangled with via an evil covenant. 

When you wake up from such a dream, the first thing you should do is to pray ruggedly, rejecting and denouncing every form of agreement or union with marine kingdom. Break whatever connection exists between you and water spirits. 

Swimming In Dirty Water Dream Meaning


Finding oneself swimming in dirty water in your dreams, signals the presence of serious spiritual problems in the life of the dreamer. 

All dreams of swimming in dirty or murky water often communicate the following messages:

  1. That the dreamer is living and wallowing deeply in sin. 
  2. There is a serious witchcraft attack against the dreamer, meant to render them miserable and extremely poor.
  3. The dreamer has intentionally or ignorantly involved themselves in the activities of darkness. 
  4. There has been an initiation into the coven of water spirits. 
  5. The enemy is plotting to inflict the dreamer with sicknesses and possibly cause their death. 

All of these require that the dreamer repents, gets delivered from the hand of the enemy, gets cleansed by the Spirit of God, and re-consecrates themselves back to God. 

Seeing Someone Swimming In A Dream


If you happen to see someone swimming in the dream, it will likely be someone that you know in your waking life. If the individual you saw swimming in your dream was experiencing difficulties, drowning or got drowned in the dream, you need to pray seriously for that person. 

The meaning of such dreams are always clear: that the person you saw struggling to swim or drowning while swimming in a dream, is obviously faced with problems and difficulties they may not be able to share with you. 

You saw this dream because God wanted you to pray for that person. So go on an intercede intensely for them. Ask God to deliver and help them out of whatever they are passing through. 

Final Thoughts On Meaning Of Swimming In A Dream


As you can see, both the positive and negative sides to the meaning of swimming in dreams are very serious. Such dreams shouldn't be handled with levity. 

The moment a dream about swimming starts being recurring and disturbing, the dreamer should start praying because something is wrong somewhere. 

If you are one of those who frequently see bad  dreams about swimming, you should take your time to read this article and indentify the particular part which speaks concerning your situation, then pray accordingly. 

Beloved, I trust that by reading this dream interpretation, you were able to grasp the spiritual meaning of swimming in a dream. 

For those who have been seeing disturbing dreams about swimming, pray this prayer against swimming in the dream

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Remain blessed. 
Anointed And Gifted Christian Dream Interpreter, Christian Therapist, Writer And Web Designer.