Ladder
“Staircase, possibly from 'salal' meaning to raise up”
Summary
A structure for climbing, mentioned in Jacob's vision at Bethel where he saw angels ascending and descending.
☩Jacob's Vision
The word 'ladder' (Hebrew 'sullam') occurs only in Genesis 28:12, describing Jacob's vision at Bethel: '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.' Above the ladder stood the LORD, who renewed to Jacob the covenant promises made to Abraham and Isaac. This vision assured the fugitive patriarch of God's omnipresent providence and the open communication between heaven and earth.
☩Christological Fulfillment
Jesus applied Jacob's vision to Himself, telling Nathanael: 'Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man' (John 1:51). Christ is the true 'ladder'—the way of access between heaven and earth, the mediator through whom God descends to humanity and humanity ascends to God. In Him the patriarch's vision finds its ultimate fulfillment as the channel of divine blessing.
Related Verses1 mention
Genesis· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ladder," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.American Tract Society, "Ladder," in American Tract Society Bible Dictionary (American Tract Society, 1859).