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Ladder of Jacob

A Jewish apocalyptic work based on Jacob's vision of the ladder at Bethel. Describes the ascent of angels and the future of Israel.|||Survives in Old Church Slavonic. The date and origin are uncertain.|||Probably composed in the 2nd century CE or later. An original work written in a Jewish context after the Destruction of the Temple.|||Not canonical in any tradition.|||Based on Jacob's vision of the ladder at Bethel. Describes the ascent of angels, the future of Israel, and the coming of the Messiah.|||Lunt, H. G. " Ladder of Jacob." In The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 2. Doubleday, 1985.|||Kugel, J. " The Ladder of Jacob." Harvard Theological Review 88 (1995): 209–227.|||Ladder of Jacob — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladder_of_Jacob|Background and scholarly discussion.|||" And Jacob saw a ladder, and its top reached to heaven, and the angels of God we're ascending and descending on it." — Ladder of Jacob 1:1

Collection: Jewish Pseudepigrapha Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition.

Date & Provenance

Probably composed in the 2nd century CE or later. An original work written in a Jewish context after the Destruction of the Temple.

Language & Manuscripts

Survives in Old Church Slavonic. The date and origin are uncertain.

Why It Matters for Study

Based on Jacob's vision of the ladder at Bethel. Describes the ascent of angels, the future of Israel, and the coming of the Messiah.

" And Jacob saw a ladder, and its top reached to heaven, and the angels of God we're ascending and descending on it." — Ladder of Jacob 1:1

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " And Jacob saw a ladder, and its top reached to heaven, and the angels of God we're ascending and descending on it." — Ladder of Jacob 1:1 " And Jacob saw a ladder, and its top reached to heaven, and the angels of God we're ascending and descending on it." — Ladder of Jacob 1:1

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Lunt, H. G. " Ladder of Jacob." In The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 2. Doubleday, 1985.
Kugel, J. " The Ladder of Jacob." Harvard Theological Review 88 (1995): 209–227.
Ladder of Jacob — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladder_of_Jacob|Background and scholarly discussion.