### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word ὄναρ (ónar, `{{G3677}}`) fundamentally signifies "a dream," referring to the mental images, thoughts, or sensations experienced by a sleeping person. Its derivation is noted as uncertain, suggesting it is a primary, uncompounded term for this specific phenomenon. In biblical usage, particularly within the New Testament, ὄναρ consistently carries a profound theological weight, moving beyond mere psychological activity to denote a divinely-orchestrated communication. It is not merely an arbitrary nocturnal vision but a purposeful message from God or His angelic messengers, often conveying revelation, warning, or guidance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ὄναρ appears six times in the New Testament, exclusively within the Gospel of Matthew. This concentrated usage is highly significant, indicating its importance to Matthew's theological narrative:
* **[[Matthew 1:20]]**: An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, confirming the miraculous conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit and instructing him to take Mary as his wife. This dream provides divine reassurance and legitimizes Jesus's unique origin.
* **[[Matthew 2:12]]**: The Magi, after worshipping the infant Jesus, are divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, thereby circumventing his malicious intent to harm the child. This demonstrates God's protective intervention.
* **[[Matthew 2:13]]**: An angel of the Lord again appears to Joseph in a dream, commanding him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape Herod's infanticidal decree. This dream is a direct divine command for the family's safety.
* **[[Matthew 2:19]]**: After Herod's death, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream in Egypt, instructing him to return to the land of Israel. This marks the end of their exile and the next stage of God's plan.
* **[[Matthew 2:22]]**: Upon hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea, Joseph is warned in a dream by God to turn aside to the region of Galilee, ensuring the family's continued safety and fulfilling prophecy.
* **[[Matthew 27:19]]**: Pilate's wife sends a message to her husband, urging him to have nothing to do with Jesus, stating, "for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." This unique occurrence highlights a divine warning, even to an outsider, concerning the grave injustice about to be committed against Christ.
In every instance, ὄναρ functions as a clear and authoritative channel of divine communication, shaping the narrative of Jesus's early life and the events surrounding His crucifixion. The dreams are never ambiguous or open to human interpretation, but rather direct and imperative.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Hebrew Counterparts:** The primary Hebrew word for "dream" in the Old Testament is חֲלוֹם (chalowm, `{{H2472}}`). Like ὄναρ, chalowm often signifies a divinely-sent message, as seen in the significant dreams of Joseph ([[Genesis 37]], [[Genesis 40]], [[Genesis 41]]), Pharaoh ([[Genesis 41]]), and Nebuchadnezzar ([[Daniel 2]], [[Daniel 4]]). The Septuagint frequently renders chalowm as ὄναρ, establishing a strong semantic link between the Old Testament and New Testament understanding of divine dreams.
* **Visions:** While related as forms of divine revelation, "visions" (e.g., ὅραμα, horama `{{G3705}}`; ὀπτασία, optasia `{{G3701}}`) typically occur in a waking or trance-like state, distinguishing them from ὄναρ, which is specifically a nocturnal experience during sleep. Both, however, serve as conduits for God's direct communication.
* **Prophecy:** Dreams, particularly those conveyed by ὄναρ, often serve a prophetic function, revealing God's will, future events, or hidden truths, aligning them with the broader concept of divine revelation through prophets.
* **Angelic Appearances:** In Matthew's Gospel, the dreams are consistently mediated by "the angel of the Lord," underscoring the direct divine agency behind these nocturnal communications.
### Theological Significance
The consistent use of ὄναρ in Matthew's Gospel profoundly underscores several key theological truths:
* **God's Active Providence:** The dreams demonstrate God's meticulous and active involvement in the unfolding of His redemptive plan. He is not a distant deity but one who intimately guides and protects His Son and those instrumental in His birth.
* **Divine Guidance and Protection:** The sequence of dreams given to Joseph illustrates God's precise guidance, directing the Holy Family's movements to ensure Jesus's safety from Herod's malice and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. God's care is both specific and powerful.
* **Confirmation of Christ's Identity:** The initial dream to Joseph confirms the supernatural conception of Jesus, establishing His divine origin and unique identity from the very beginning of the Gospel narrative.
* **Warning Against Opposition:** The dreams to the Magi and Pilate's wife serve as divine warnings against those who would unwittingly or knowingly oppose God's will, highlighting the pervasive reach of God's knowledge and intervention.
* **Continuity of Revelation:** Matthew's emphasis on dreams as a mode of divine communication establishes a clear continuity with the Old Testament pattern, affirming that the same God who spoke to patriarchs and prophets is now at work in the advent of His Son.
* **Sovereignty of God:** The narratives powerfully convey God's absolute sovereignty, as He uses even the subconscious state of sleep to convey His immutable decrees and directives, orchestrating events according to His perfect will.
### Summary
The Greek word ὄναρ (ónar, `{{G3677}}`) denotes "a dream" and, within the New Testament, is exclusively found in the Gospel of Matthew. There, it consistently signifies a divinely-sent nocturnal vision, serving as a critical vehicle for God's active guidance, protection, and revelation concerning the birth and early life of Jesus Christ. These dreams, often mediated by an angel of the Lord, underscore God's meticulous providence, ensuring the safety of the Holy Family and the precise fulfillment of His redemptive plan. The theological significance of ὄναρ lies in its powerful demonstration of God's intimate, purposeful, and sovereign involvement in human history, echoing the pattern of divine dream communication seen throughout the Old Testament (e.g., `{{H2472}}`) and confirming the unique identity and mission of Jesus.
TRV