This biblical expression has a touch of humor. Nowadays, we almost always use this phrase coupled with sympathy rather than with any other feelings. Biblically, it was coupled with a burning envy and murderous designs:
“And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer comes. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and throw him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast has devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams”
Joseph’s dreams, indeed, were not welcomed by his brothers.
Literally, the phrase means ‘an owner of dreams.’ In the biblical verse above, Joseph is called by his brother ‘the dreams owner,’ which is pretty close to the English term: ‘dreamer.’
Today, big companies are frantically on the search for a new, brilliant ‘ba•al cha•lo•mot’ that will enrich them overnight. And, indeed, behind every great invention you’ll almost always find a ‘ba•al cha•lo•mot’ that was first scorned by many ‘wiser’ others.
If you find your own child to be a little ‘ba•al cha•lo•mot’ too, perhaps it is wise to support these dreams for a while. Who knows…
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