Hope that this finds you well. Today we're going to look at the biblical meaning of a dream involving feces.
Use our Biblical Dream Interpreter Calculator to find out the meaning of your dreams. Write 3 sentences about your dream for the best interpretation.
1. The Dream can mean the Removal of Sin, Cleansing, and Repentance
Symbol: God exposing and removing sin, spiritual purification.
Biblical Basis:
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities.” — Ezekiel 36:25
“Everything that defiles… God will remove.” (cf. Leviticus 4:11–12)
Dream meaning:
If you see or dispose of feces (faeces), it can symbolize God cleansing you from past sin, guilt, or spiritual pollution. It often reflects repentance, letting go, or a fresh start.
2. It Can Mean That Hidden Sin or Spiritual Pollution Is Being Exposed
Symbol: Shame, impurity, unconfessed sin, corruption.
Biblical Basis:
“I will spread dung on your faces, the dung of your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.” — Malachi 2:3
“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” — Isaiah 64:6
Dream meaning:
If you step in, touch, or see feces in a shameful way, it may symbolize something hidden that God wants to bring into the light. It can point to areas of your life needing confession or cleansing.
3. It Can Signal The Need for Spiritual Cleansing
Symbol: Spiritual impurity or contamination.
Biblical Basis:
“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” — 2 Corinthians 7:1
Dream meaning:
If the dream is unpleasant or uncomfortable, it often reflects a call to spiritual cleansing — removing toxic influences, sin, or guilt from your life.
The Church Fathers on Spiritual Filthiness:
| Church Father | Quote / Teaching | Context / Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215) | “Let us wash away the filth of our souls, not with water, but with righteousness; let us be cleansed from sin by good deeds.” (Paedagogus 3.11) | Clement connects spiritual cleansing with repentance and righteous living, contrasting external washings with inner purity. |
| Tertullian (c. 155–240) | “The filth of sin is not removed by the hands, but by the conscience purified in Christ.” (On Baptism 7) | Tertullian emphasizes that true cleansing comes through Christ’s work in the soul, not mere ritual or outward actions. |
| Origen (c. 184–253) | “It is not the body that defiles the soul, but the soul that defiles the body through its wickedness.” (Homilies on Leviticus 8.3) | Origen interprets Levitical purity laws spiritually: impurity begins in the heart, not in physical dirt or contact. |
| Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258) | “The stains of the world must be washed away by the tears of repentance.” (On the Lapsed 30) | Cyprian speaks of spiritual filth as stains from sin that require contrition and confession. |
| Athanasius (c. 296–373) | “Sin makes the soul like a house covered in filth and decay, until the Lord comes to cleanse and dwell within it.” (Letter to Marcellinus) | Athanasius uses the image of filth to describe sin’s corruption and God’s sanctifying presence. |
| Basil the Great (c. 330–379) | “We must cleanse ourselves not with baths, but with tears; for what defileth a man is not the dust on his skin but the sin in his soul.” (Homilies on the Psalms 14) | Basil contrasts bodily hygiene with true spiritual cleansing through repentance. |
| John Chrysostom (c. 349–407) | “It is not filth on the skin but filth in the soul that God condemns.” (Homily on Matthew 51.2) | Chrysostom warns against focusing on external appearance while ignoring inner sin. |
| Augustine of Hippo (354–430) | “The filth of the soul is pride, lust, greed, and all unrighteousness; only Christ can cleanse it.” (Enarrationes in Psalmos 50) | Augustine defines spiritual filth as moral corruption within the heart and calls for divine cleansing. |
| Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386) | “Baptism is not for washing off bodily dirt, but for the cleansing of the conscience.” (Catechetical Lectures 3.4) | Cyril explicitly connects baptism to spiritual rather than physical cleansing. |
| Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395) | “The soul, when stained with the filth of passion, must be purified like gold in the fire.” (On Virginity 18) | Gregory uses vivid imagery of refining to describe inner purification from sinful passions. |
| Ambrose of Milan (c. 340–397) | “He who desires to see God must wash away not dust but guilt; for sin is the filth that blinds the eyes of the heart.” (On Repentance 2.9) | Ambrose links spiritual filth with guilt and moral blindness, urging repentance. |
| Jerome (c. 347–420) | “It is useless to wash the body and leave the soul defiled.” (Letter 22 to Eustochium) | Jerome criticizes outward ritual purity without inward holiness. |
Summary Table
| Feces in Dream Context | Meaning | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Disposing of feces | Cleansing, repentance, freedom | Ezekiel 36:25 |
| Feces exposed or on the body | Sin or shame being revealed | Malachi 2:3 |
| Stepping in feces | A warning or wake-up call to deal with hidden impurity | Isaiah 64:6 |
| Needing to wash after contact | Call to purify life, remove what defiles | 2 Corinthians 7:1 |
