King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of ADONAI were going up and down on it.
Berean Standard Bible:
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.
American Standard Version:
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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he dreamed{H2492}, and behold a ladder{H5551} set up{H5324} on the earth{H776}, and the top of it{H7218} reached{H5060} to heaven{H8064}: and behold the angels{H4397} of God{H430} ascending{H5927} and descending{H3381} on it.
Cross-References (KJV):
John 1:51
- And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Genesis 32:1
- ¶ And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
Genesis 32:2
- And when Jacob saw them, he said, This [is] God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Numbers 12:6
- And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream.
Job 33:15
- In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
Job 33:16
- Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
Genesis 15:1
- ¶ After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 28:12
Genesis 28:12 is part of the narrative concerning Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. This verse occurs within the context of Jacob's flight from his brother Esau, whom he had deceived to obtain their father's blessing. Fearing for his life after Esau vowed to kill him, Jacob is on a journey to Haran to find a wife from among his relatives, as per his mother Rebekah's advice.
Themes:
1. **Divine Encounter**: The verse describes a dream Jacob has while sleeping in a place he later names Bethel ("House of God"). In the dream, he sees a ladder or stairway reaching from earth to heaven, symbolizing a connection between the divine and human realms.
2. **Angelic Messengers**: The angels ascending and descending on the ladder represent the idea that heavenly beings are actively involved in the world of humans, carrying out God's will and perhaps also bringing human concerns to the divine attention.
3. **God's Presence and Promise**: This vision serves as a reassurance to Jacob of God's presence with him, even in a foreign land. It is also a reaffirmation of the covenant promises made to his ancestors, Abraham and Isaac, that his descendants would be numerous and would inherit the land of Canaan.
4. **Transition and Blessing**: The dream marks a significant transition point in Jacob's life. It is a moment of revelation and blessing, where God confirms the covenantal promises and blesses Jacob, despite his flawed character and past deceitfulness.
Historical Context:
The verse reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief in the importance of dreams as a means of divine communication. It also illustrates the patriarchal narratives' emphasis on God's guidance and providence over the lives of the patriarchs and the nation of Israel that would descend from them. The story of Jacob's ladder is set within a broader cultural context where dreams were often seen as messages from the divine, and where the establishment of sacred spaces (like Bethel) was significant for worship and the acknowledgment of divine presence.
In summary, Genesis 28:12 captures a pivotal moment in Jacob's life, highlighting themes of divine encounter, angelic activity, the fulfillment of covenant promises, and the transformation of a flawed individual into a patriarch of Israel, all within the framework of ancient Near Eastern dream narratives and religious beliefs.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2492
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלַם
Transliteration: châlam
Pronunciation: khaw-lam'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to bind firmly, i.e. (by implication) to be (causatively to make) plump; also (through the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream; (cause to) dream(-er), be in good liking, recover. - Strong's Number: H5551
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סֻלָּם
Transliteration: çullâm
Pronunciation: sool-lawm'
Description: from סָלַל; a stair-case; ladder. - Strong's Number: H5324
There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָצַב
Transliteration: nâtsab
Pronunciation: naw-tsab'
Description: a primitive root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively); appointed, deputy, erect, establish, [idiom] Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. - Strong's Number: H5060
There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַע
Transliteration: nâgaʻ
Pronunciation: naw-gah'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.); beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch. - Strong's Number: H8064
There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
Transliteration: shâmayim
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s). - Strong's Number: H4397
There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֲלְאָךְ
Transliteration: mălʼâk
Pronunciation: mal-awk'
Description: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher); ambassador, angel, king, messenger. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H3381
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַד
Transliteration: yârad
Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.