Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clearImportance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV)While he was sleeping, he had a dream, and wow, a stairway was set up on the earth and its top reached to the heavens, and look, God’s messengers were ascending and descending on it.
Key: khaki:verbs, blue:Elohim.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
BrLXXΚαὶ ἐνυπνιάσθη· καὶ ἰδοὺ κλίμαξ ἐστηριγμένη ἐν τῇ γῇ, ἧς ἡ κεφαλὴ ἀφικνεῖτο εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν· καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνέβαινον καὶ κατέβαινον ἐπʼ αὐτῇ. (Kai enupniasthaʸ; kai idou klimax estaʸrigmenaʸ en taʸ gaʸ, haʸs haʸ kefalaʸ afikneito eis ton ouranon; kai hoi angeloi tou theou anebainon kai katebainon epʼ autaʸ. )
BrTrand dreamed, and behold a ladder fixed on the earth, whose top reached to heaven, and the angels of God ascended and descended on it.
ULTAnd he dreamed, and behold, a stairway was set up on the earth and its top reached to the heavens, and behold, angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
USTWhile he was dreaming, he saw a stairway. The bottom of the stairway was on the ground and its top reached up to heaven, and he saw God’s angels going up and coming down on the stairway.
BSB § 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.
OEBThen he dreamed and saw a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and the messengers of God were going up and down on it.
WEBBEHe dreamt and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
NETand had a dream. He saw a stairway erected on the earth with its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were going up and coming down it
LSVAnd he dreams, and behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and its head is touching the heavens; and behold, messengers of God are going up and coming down by it;
FBVHe dreamed he saw a stairway that started on earth, and the top reached all the way into heaven. He saw God's angels going up and down on it.
T4TWhile he was sleeping, he had a dream, in which he was surprised to see a stairway. The bottom of the stairway was on the earth and the top was in the sky. Jacob also saw that God’s angels were going up and down the stairway.
LEBAnd he dreamed, and behold, a stairway was set on the earth, and its top touched the heavens. And behold, angels of God were going up and going down on it.
BBEAnd he had a dream, and in his dream he saw steps stretching from earth to heaven, and the angels of God were going up and down on them.
JPSAnd 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.
ASVAnd 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.
DRAAnd he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching heaven: the angels also of God ascending and descending by it;
YLTAnd he dreameth, and lo, a ladder set up on the earth, and its head is touching the heavens; and lo, messengers of God are going up and coming down by it;
DrbyAnd he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to the heavens. And behold, angels of [fn]God ascended and descended upon it.
RVAnd 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.
WbstrAnd he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
KJB-1769And 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.
KJB-1611And he dreamed, and beholde, a ladder set vp on the earth, and the top of it reached to heauen: and beholde the Angels of God ascending and descending on it. (Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)
BshpsAnd he dreamed, and beholde there stoode a lather vpo the earth, and the toppe of it reached vp to heauen: and see, the angels of God went vp & downe vpon it. (And he dreamed, and behold there stood a lather upo the earth, and the top of it reached up to heaven: and see, the angels of God went up and down upon it.)
GnvaThen he dreamed, and behold, there stoode a ladder vpon the earth, and the top of it reached vp to heauen: and loe, the Angels of God went vp and downe by it. (Then he dreamed, and behold, there stood a ladder upon the earth, and the top of it reached up to heaven: and lo, the Angels of God went up and down by it. )
CvdlAnd he dreamed, and beholde, there stode vpon ye earth, a ladder, whose toppe reached vnto the heauen. And beholde, the angels of God wente vp and downe vpon it, (And he dreamed, and behold, there stood upon ye/you_all earth, a ladder, whose top reached unto the heaven. And behold, the angels of God went up and down upon it,)
WyclAnd he seiye in sleep a laddir stondynge on the erthe, and the cop ther of touchinge heuene; and he seiy Goddis aungels stiynge vp and goynge doun ther bi, (And he seiye in sleep a laddir stondynge on the earth, and the cop there of touchinge heaven; and he see Goddis angels stiynge up and goynge down there bi,)
LuthUnd ihm träumete, und siehe, eine Leiter stund auf Erden, die rührete mit der Spitze an den Himmel; und siehe, die Engel Gottes stiegen daran auf und nieder. (And him träumete, and look, one Leiter stood on earthn, the rührete with the/of_the Spitze at the heaven; and look, the angel God’s stiegen daran on and nieder.)
ClVgViditque in somnis scalam stantem super terram, et cacumen illius tangens cælum: angelos quoque Dei ascendentes et descendentes per eam,[fn] (Viditque in somnis scalam stantem over the_earth/land, and cacumen illius tangens the_sky: angelos too of_God ascendentes and descendentes through eam, )
28.12Viditque in somnis, etc. GREG., Regist. l. 1, ep. 24 Jacob prædicatores signat qui non solum caput Ecclesiæ, id est Christum contemplando appetunt, sed ad membra illius miserando descendunt: quod angeli ascendentes descendentesque demonstrant. Hinc Moses crebro tabernaculum intrat, et exit; et qui intus ad contemplationem rapitur, foris infirmantium negotiis urgetur; intus arcana considerat, foris onera carnalium portat. Qui de dubiis semper ad tabernaculum recurrit, coram testamenti arca Dominum consulit, exemplum rectoribus præbens, ut cum foris ambigunt quid disponant, ad mentem quasi ad tabernaculum redeant, et velut coram testamenti arca Dominum consulant, de quibus dubitant, apud se intus sacri eloquii paginas requirentes. Moraliter. In itinere dormire est in via hujus sæculi ab impedimento actionum sæcularium quiescere. Jacob dormiens angelos vidit: quia illi divina conspiciunt, qui ab appetitu temporalium rerum oculos claudunt: quos bene clausos diabolus aperuit dicens: In quacunque die comederitis, aperientur oculi vestri. Gen. 3 Vidit in somnis, etc. ISID. Angeli per scalam ascendentes et descendentes, evangelistæ sunt et prædicatores Christi, ascendentes ad intelligendam Divinitatem; omnem creaturam excedentes, ut inveniant in principio Verbum apud Deum, per quem omnia facta sunt. Descendentes ut inveniant eum, factum ex muliere, factum sub lege, etc. In illa etiam scala a terra usque ad cœlum, a carne usque ad spiritum: quia in illa carnales proficiendo, quasi ascendendo spirituales fiunt. Ad quos lacte nutriendos spirituales descendunt, quia non possunt eis loqui quasi spiritualibus, sed quasi carnalibus. Ipse est sursum in capite, ipse deorsum in corpore suo, id est Ecclesia; ipse scala, qui ait Joan. 14: Ego sum via, etc. Ad ipsum ascenditur, ut in excelsis intelligatur: et descenditur, ut in membris parvulis nutriatur; per illum se erigunt, ut sublimem exspectent: et humiliant, ut eum sublimiter et temperanter annuntient.
28.12Viditque in somnis, etc. GREG., Regist. l. 1, ep. 24 Yacob prælet_him_sayores signat who not/no solum caput Ecclesiæ, id it_is Christum contemplando appetunt, but to members illius miserando descendunt: that angeli ascendentes descendentesque demonstrant. Hinc Moses crebro tabernaculum intrat, and exit; and who intus to contemplationem rapitur, foris infirmantium negotiis urgetur; intus arcana considerat, foris onera carnalium portat. Who about dubiis always to tabernaculum recurrit, before testamenti box Dominum consulit, exemplum rectoribus præbens, as when/with foris ambigunt quid disponant, to mentem as_if to tabernaculum redeant, and velut before testamenti box Dominum consulant, about to_whom dubitant, apud se intus sacri eloquii paginas requirentes. Moraliter. In itinere dormire it_is in road huyus sæculi away impedimento actionum sæcularium quiescere. Yacob dormiens angelos vidit: because illi divina conspiciunt, who away appetitu temporalium rerum oculos claudunt: which bene clausos diabolus aperuit saying: In quacunque day comederitis, aperientur oculi vestri. Gen. 3 Vidit in somnis, etc. ISID. Angeli through scalam ascendentes and descendentes, evangelistæ are and prælet_him_sayores of_Christ, ascendentes to intelligendam Divinitatem; omnem creaturam excedentes, as inveniant in at_the_beginning Verbum apud God, through which everything facts are. Descendentes as inveniant him, factum from muliere, done under lege, etc. In that also scala from earth/land until to cœlum, from carne until to spiritum: because in that carnales proficiendo, as_if ascendendo spirituales fiunt. Ad which lacte nutriendos spirituales descendunt, because not/no possunt to_them loqui as_if spiritualibus, but as_if carnalibus. Exactly_that it_is sursum in capite, exactly_that/himself deorsum in corpore suo, id it_is Ecclesia; exactly_that/himself scala, who he_said Yoan. 14: I I_am via, etc. Ad ipsum went_upur, as in excelsis intelligatur: and descenditur, as in membris parvulis nutriatur; through him se erigunt, as sublimem exspectent: and humiliant, as him sublimiter and temperanter annuntient.
28:10-22 Despite Jacob’s previous means of securing the blessing, God assured him of protection and provision. The God of Abraham and Isaac was also the God of Jacob. The revelation dramatically changed Jacob’s outlook and brought faith into clearer focus.
This stairway was wide enough for there to be angels moving up and down on it at the same time. Alternate translation: “he saw a staircase whose base was resting on the ground” or “he saw a staircase. The base of the stairway was on the ground”
וְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ מַגִּ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יְמָה
and=his/its=head/top reaching the,heaven,to
Alternate translation: “and the top of it went all the way up into the sky,”
While Isaac’s family was at Beersheba, Jacob stole Esau’s birthright, and Esau made plans to kill Jacob once his father had passed away. When Rebekah found out about Esau’s plan, she told Jacob to flee to her family in Paddan-aram (also called Aram-naharaim, meaning “Aram of the two rivers”) and garnered Isaac’s support by telling him that she was concerned that Jacob might marry one of the local Canaanite woman. So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram to find a wife there, much like Abraham had sent his servant Eleazar to this area to find a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:10). Jacob left Beersheba and headed for Haran in Paddan-aram, and as night fell he stopped at a town called Luz. There he slept with his head resting on a stone and dreamed of a staircase to heaven with angels ascending and descending it. The Lord also spoke to him and reaffirmed his promise to give Canaan to his descendants. The Lord also promised to bring Jacob back to Canaan from Haran. When Jacob woke from his sleep, he declared the place to be the house of God and renamed it Bethel (meaning, “house of God”). Later Bethel appears to have served as an early location of the Ark of the Covenant in the Promised Land (Judges 20; see “The Ark of the Covenant in the Promised Land” map). From Bethel Jacob continued on to the general area of Haran, likely following the same route in reverse that he followed upon his return journey to Canaan from Haran (Genesis 31-35). Sometime before Jacob returned, however, Esau moved away from Canaan and settled in Seir (Genesis 32:3; 36:1-8; ; see “Edom and the Land of Seir” map).
Though the patriarch Isaac moved from place to place several times within southern Canaan, compared to his father Abraham and his son Jacob, Isaac appears to have been a bit of a homebody. In fact, unless Isaac resettled in places not recorded in Scripture, the farthest extent he ever traveled appears to have been only about 90 miles (113 km). Yet, as the child of God’s promise to Abraham to build a great nation from his descendants, Isaac’s relatively simple life served as a critical bridge from Abraham to the beginnings of the twelve tribes of Israel, who were descended from Isaac’s son Jacob. It is likely that Isaac was born at Beersheba (see Genesis 21:1-24), and later Abraham offered him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah (located at Jerusalem; see 2 Chronicles 3:1). Then Abraham, Isaac, and those with them returned to Beersheba (Genesis 22:1-19). When Isaac reached adulthood, his father sent a servant to bring back a bride for him from Aram-naharaim, far north of Canaan. When his bride, Rebekah, arrived, Isaac had just come from Beer-lahai-roi and settled in the Negev (Genesis 24:62). Later Isaac resettled with Rebekah in Beer-lahai-roi, and this may have been where their twins son Esau and Jacob were born. A famine forced Isaac to go to Gerar (Genesis 26:1-6) in “the land of the Philistines.” The distinct people group known as the Philistines in later books of the Bible did not arrive until the time of the Judges, so the term here must have referred to another people group living in this region, and this is supported by the fact that King Abimelech’s name is Semitic, not Aegean (the likely origin of the later Philistines). While Isaac was there, he repeated his father’s error (Genesis 20) by lying to the king that his wife was only his sister. Isaac also became increasingly prosperous at Gerar, so the Philistines told him to leave their region. Isaac moved away from the town of Gerar and settled further away in the valley of Gerar. There he dug a well, but the Philistines claimed it for themselves, so he called it Esek, meaning “argument.” So Isaac’s men dug another well and called it Sitnah (meaning “hostility”), but it led to more quarreling, so he dug yet another well and called it Rehoboth (meaning “open space”). The locations of these two later wells are not certain, but they may have been located near Ruheibeh as shown on this map. Then Isaac moved to Beersheba and built an altar. He also dug a well there, and King Abimelech of the Philistines came and exchanged oaths of peace with him. It was likely at Beersheba that Isaac blessed his sons Esau and Jacob, and both sons eventually left Canaan (see “Jacob Goes to Paddan-Aram” map). When Jacob later returned, he traveled to Mamre near Hebron and reunited with Isaac. Sometime after this Isaac died, and Jacob and Esau buried him there.
