Jacob's Ladder

Illustration of Jacob's Ladder

In the Book of Genesis, Jacob experiences this vision while fleeing from his brother Esau and resting at Bethel. He dreams of a stairway extending from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it, and God stands at the top reaffirming the covenant promises made to Abraham and Isaac. God assures Jacob that the land will belong to his descendants and that through them all families of the earth will be blessed. This event signifies God's continued faithfulness to His promises and marks a turning point in Jacob's spiritual journey, later alluded to in the New Testament.

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Details

Category
Patriarchs
Dreamer
Jacob
Interpretation
God's promise to be with Jacob and his descendants. Jesus later identified Himself as the true ladder between heaven and earth.

Key Passages

The Dream

Genesis 28:12-17

A12nd he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Related

Characters

Did You Know?

1

The ladder (or stairway) reached from earth to heaven with angels going up and down.

2

God stood above it and renewed the covenant promises made to Abraham and Isaac.

3

Jacob called the place 'Bethel' (House of God). It became one of Israel's most important worship sites.