Jacob's ladder
The Old Testament
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.
Genesis 28:12
Read the full text in a modern translation BSB
Read the full text (8 verses)
In the New Testament
Then 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.”
John 1:51
BSB
Read the full text in a modern translation BSB
Read the full text (1 verse)
Fleeing from his brother, Jacob sleeps in the open, with a stone for a pillow. He dreams of a ladder set up on the earth that reaches to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it, and the LORD standing above it, repeating his promises. When he wakes: this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Jesus refers to this himself in his conversation with Nathanael: ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. He is the ladder between heaven and earth, the place where God and people meet. Jacob called the place Bethel, 'house of God'; Jesus later says that he himself is the temple.
What Jesus said about it
- Under the fig treeBefore Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.John 1:48
- In three daysDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.John 2:19