Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 28:12
12And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it.
Genesis 28:12 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!
- New King James Version (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.
Context of Genesis 28:12
10Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. 13The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. 14Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
Read all of Genesis 28Genesis 28:12 word by word
וַֽיַּחֲלֹ֗ם וְהִנֵּ֤ה סֻלָּם֙ מֻצָּ֣ב אַ֔רְצָה וְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ מַגִּ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יְמָה וְהִנֵּה֙ מַלְאֲכֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֔ים עֹלִ֥ים וְיֹרְדִ֖ים בּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he dreamedחָלַםchâlam · to dreamH2492
- and behold a ladderסֻלָּםsûllâm · ladderH5551
- set upנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
- on the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- and the top of itרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: topH7218
- reachedנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
- to heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- and behold the angelsמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messenger: angelH4397
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- ascendingעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- and descendingיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
Cross-references for Genesis 28:12
- Genesis 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 reward will be very great.
- Genesis 20:3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
- Genesis 37:5Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
- Genesis 40:1After this, the king of Egypt’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
- Numbers 12:6he said: “Listen to what I say: If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
- Job 4:12A word was brought to me in secret; my ears caught a whisper of it.
- Job 33:15In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep comes over people as they slumber on their beds,
- Daniel 2:1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled him, and sleep deserted him.
- Daniel 4:1King Nebuchadnezzar, To those of every people, nation, and language, who live on the whole earth: May your prosperity increase.
- Daniel 7:1In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary of his account.
- Matthew 1:20But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
- Matthew 2:12And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
- Hebrews 1:1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
- Genesis 32:1Jacob went on his way, and God’s angels met him.
- 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him. You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.”
- Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
Commentaries on Genesis 28:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12He dreamed, and behold a ladder - A multitude of fanciful things have been spoken of Jacob's vision of the ladder, and its signification. It might have several designs, as God chooses to accomplish the greatest number of ends by the fewest and simplest means possible. 1. It is very likely that its primary design was to point out the providence of God, by which he watches over and regulates all terrestrial things; for nothing is left to merely natural…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-22Verses 1-22 - Jacob‘s Journey to Haran 3. קהל qâhāl “congregation.” 9. מחלת māchălat Machalath, “sickness, or a harp.” 19. לוּז lûz Luz, “almond.” The blessing of his sons was the last passage in the active life of Isaac, after which he retires from the scene. Jacob now becomes the leading figure in the sacred history. His spiritual character has yet come out to view. But even now we can discern the general distinction in the lives of the three…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 Jacob's conduct hitherto, as recorded, was not that of one who simply feared and trusted in God. But now in trouble, obliged to flee, he looked only to God to make him to dwell in safety, and he could lie down and sleep in the open air with his head upon a stone. Any true believer would be willing to take up with Jacob's pillow, provided he might have Jacob's vision. God's time to visit his people with his comforts, is, when they are most…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13ladder: This word occurs nowhere else in Scripture. The image may have reminded people at that time of a stairway or ramp on the front of a ziggurat (a large temple tower in ancient Mesopotamia). Such a structure was thought to connect heaven and earth (see study note on 11:4). In this passage, God begins direct communication between heaven and earth to guide and protect Jacob, who carries his covenant (28:13–15; see Psalm 91:11–15). Jesus later said that…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. he dreamed ... and behold a ladder--Some writers are of opinion that it was not a literal ladder that is meant, as it is impossible to conceive any imagery stranger and more unnatural than that of a ladder, whose base was on earth, while its top reached heaven, without having any thing on which to rest its upper extremity. They suppose that the little heap of stones, on which his head reclined for a pillow, being the miniature model of the object that…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 28:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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