Genesis 28:12-14
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
12 Then he had a dream: a stairway[a] rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s angels were going up and down on it.(A) 13 And there was the Lord standing beside him and saying: I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants.(B) 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and through them you will spread to the west and the east, to the north and the south. In you and your descendants all the families of the earth will find blessing.(C)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 28:12 Stairway: in Hebrew, sullam, traditionally but inaccurately translated as “ladder.” The corresponding verb, salal, means “to heap up” something, such as dirt for a highway or a ramp. The imagery in Jacob’s dream may be derived from the Babylonian ziggurat or temple tower, “with its top in the sky” (11:4), and with brick steps leading up to a small temple at the top.
Genesis 28:12-14
English Standard Version
12 And he (A)dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder[a] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, (B)the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, (C)the Lord stood above it[b] and said, (D)“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. (E)The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like (F)the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and (G)your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 28:12 Or a flight of steps
- Genesis 28:13 Or beside him
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
