And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder.
Parallel translations
- WEB He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
- KJV And 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.
- NKJV Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
- NASB And he had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
- NLT As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jacob dreams of a stairway joining earth and heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it.
Overview
The ladder or stairway reveals an open channel of communication and ministry between heaven and earth, with angels carrying out God's purposes. It assures the fleeing Jacob that he is not abandoned but watched over by God. Jesus applies this image to himself in John 1:51, identifying himself as the true meeting place between God and humanity—the one Mediator who joins heaven and earth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 22
- John 1:51Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
- Num 12:6He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
- Gen 32:1–2Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
- Job 33:15–16In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
- Gen 15:1After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
- Gen 37:5–11Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
- 2 Tim 4:16–17At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
- Gen 15:12As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
- Heb 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Dan 7:1In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.
- Dan 4:1–37King Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.
- Heb 1:1On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.
- Job 4:12–21Now a word came to me secretly; my ears caught a whisper of it.
- Dan 2:1–49In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him.
- Gen 20:6–7Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
- Isa 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Matt 1:20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Chr 16:9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
- Gen 40:1–23Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
- Gen 20:3One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
- Matt 2:19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
- Matt 2:12–13And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 28:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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