The concept of a stairway in the Bible is most prominently featured in the account of Jacob's dream at Bethel, as recorded in the Book of Genesis. This stairway, often referred to as "Jacob's Ladder," serves as a significant symbol in biblical theology, representing the connection between heaven and earth and the interaction between God and humanity.

Jacob's Dream at Bethel

The primary biblical reference to a stairway is found in Genesis 28:10-17. Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, stops for the night at a place that would later be called Bethel. As he sleeps, he dreams of a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. Above the stairway stands the LORD, who reiterates to Jacob the covenant promises made to Abraham and Isaac. The passage reads:

"Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and set out for Haran. On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 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. And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, 'I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.'" (Genesis 28:10-13)

This vision is significant for several reasons. It reaffirms God's covenant with Jacob, ensuring him of divine protection and the promise of land and descendants. The stairway itself symbolizes the accessibility of God to His people and His active involvement in the world.

Symbolism and Interpretation

The stairway in Jacob's dream has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history. It is often seen as a symbol of Christ, who bridges the gap between heaven and earth. This interpretation is supported by Jesus' words in the New Testament, where He alludes to Jacob's dream in John 1:51: "Truly, truly, I tell you, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

In this context, the stairway represents Jesus as the mediator between God and humanity, fulfilling the role of the ultimate connection between the divine and the earthly realms.

Theological Implications

The imagery of the stairway emphasizes God's initiative in reaching out to humanity. It illustrates the concept of divine revelation and the ongoing relationship between God and His people. The presence of angels ascending and descending signifies the active role of heavenly beings in carrying out God's will on earth.

Furthermore, the location of the dream, Bethel, becomes a significant site in Israel's history, symbolizing God's presence and faithfulness. Jacob's response to the dream, setting up a pillar and naming the place Bethel, marks it as a sacred space where heaven and earth meet.

Conclusion

The stairway in Jacob's dream remains a powerful symbol within the biblical narrative, representing God's covenant promises, His accessibility, and the ultimate fulfillment of these promises through Jesus Christ. It serves as a reminder of the divine-human relationship and the assurance of God's presence and guidance in the lives of His people.(n.) A flight of stairs or steps; a staircase.304. anabathmos -- a going up, an ascent
... stairs. From anabaino (compare bathmos); a stairway -- stairs. see GREEK anabaino.
see GREEK bathmos. (anabathmous) -- 1 Occurrence. (anabathmon) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/304.htm - 6k

898. bathmos -- a step, degree
... Masculine Transliteration: bathmos Phonetic Spelling: (bath-mos') Short Definition:
a step, a stage, a position Definition: a step (of a stairway); hence: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/898.htm - 6k

5930b. olah -- ascent, stairway
... olah. 5931 . ascent, stairway. Transliteration: olah Short Definition: stairway.
Word Origin from alah Definition ascent, stairway NASB Word Usage stairway (2 ...
/hebrew/5930b.htm - 5k

4608. maaleh -- an ascent
... Word Origin from alah Definition an ascent NASB Word Usage ascent (9),
platform (1), slope (1), stairway (4), upper section (1). ...
/hebrew/4608.htm - 6k

4609b. maalah -- a step, stair
... Word Origin from alah Definition a step, stair NASB Word Usage go (1), high degree
(1), stairway (6), steps (22), upper chambers (1). 4609a, 4609b. ...
/hebrew/4609b.htm - 5k

Jesus Heals a Paralytic at Capernaum.
... in turn opens upon the court. In this porch there is usually a stairway
leading to the roof. The roofs are invariably flat, and ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxv jesus heals a paralytic.htm

Rachel's Refuge
... Masanath shook her head and looked away. From the stairway Nan approached. ... "Then,
if thy message is delivered, go!". He backed out and descended the stairway. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxii rachels refuge.htm

The Next Day, and the Next after That, were Passed by the Cardinal ...
... not to judge.". "Now that is very well put!" and the old man paused on
the stairway and looked round approvingly. "Of course that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/x the next day and.htm

It was Near the Middle Hour of the Night. ...
... "Now to our business," he whispered, turning to the officer. They crossed the
atrium, descended a stairway, and threw open a barred door. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 8 it was near.htm

Next Day among his Letters were Two of Value in the History of ...
... Without more ceremony Vergilius walked behind him through narrow streets, wholly
unfamiliar, and presently descending a stairway, came into a dark passage. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 15 next day among.htm

1897
... I learnt how closely your soul is sister to mine, since God calls that soul to mount
to Himself by the lift of love, without climbing the steep stairway of fear ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/viii 1897.htm

The Night of the Soul
... Well, I mean to try and find a lift by which I may be raised unto God, for
I am too tiny to climb the steep stairway of perfection. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/martin/the story of a soul/chapter ix the night of.htm

the Night of the Soul
... Well, I mean to try and find a lift by which I may be raised unto God, for
I am too tiny to climb the steep stairway of perfection. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/chapter ix - the night.htm

From Antioch to the Destruction of Jerusalem.
... (2) As a prisoner he was being borne to the Tower of Antonia, but on the stairway
asked and obtained permission to speak to the angry Jews. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xx from antioch to.htm

The Main Current of the Reformation
... came to him in his cell at Wittenberg as he was studying the Epistle to the Romans,
or whether it came while he was climbing the penitential stairway in Rome.[7 ...
/.../chapter i the main current.htm

Stairway (12 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Stairway (12 Occurrences). Genesis 28:12 He dreamed. Behold,
a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. ...
/s/stairway.htm - 10k

Stairs (12 Occurrences)

/s/stairs.htm - 10k

Stake (2 Occurrences)

/s/stake.htm - 8k

Descending (23 Occurrences)
... Genesis 28:12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached
to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ...
/d/descending.htm - 13k

Dreamed (20 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Genesis 28:12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its
top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ...
/d/dreamed.htm - 12k

Ascending (16 Occurrences)
... Genesis 28:12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached
to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ...
/a/ascending.htm - 11k

Stoop (10 Occurrences)
... Hence, any porch, platform, entrance stairway, or small veranda, at a house door.
2. (n.) A vessel of liquor; a flagon. 3. (n.) A post fixed in the earth. ...
/s/stoop.htm - 10k

Omri (16 Occurrences)
... Israel. The first results were the uncovering of massive foundation walls
of a large building, including a stairway 80 ft. wide. ...
/o/omri.htm - 20k

Dial (2 Occurrences)
... placed southeast of the Temple, and it is therefore probable that it was some part
of the Temple buildings that had cast its shadow down the stairway in full ...
/d/dial.htm - 19k

Resting (117 Occurrences)
... Genesis 28:12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached
to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ...
/r/resting.htm - 36k

What is Jacob's Ladder? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Bethel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How many prophets are in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Stairway: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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