Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder is a term derived from the biblical story told in the book of Genesis that refers to the ladder or stairs by which God communicated with Jacob in his dream. In this dream, a ladder was seen connecting heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending on it. This story is symbolic of the relationship between humans and God, with Jacob being representative of all humanity.

It is used as a metaphor for how human beings can access divine help if they choose to pursue it through prayer, meditation, and connecting to one’s faith. It also speaks to the idea of spiritual progress throughout life; that regardless of where we are and how far we have come along our spiritual journey at any given time, there will always be space for improvement and another rung to reach for on Jacob’s Ladder.

The Entered Apprentice degree is one of the three degrees within Craft Freemasonry, and includes a symbolic ladder referred to as 'Jacob's Ladder'. The ceremony is understood to represent the climb from moral darkness to the light of knowledge and understanding.

Through offering moral guidance, the rungs on Jacob’s Ladder help guide initiates up through the levels of apprenticeship into those more advanced levels. In addition, it provides a metaphor for the deeper progression to self-improvement, often equating work on oneself - such as meditation or self-examination – with steps taken toward Heaven. This idea that striving towards spiritual enlightenment is linked with Freemasonry is an important part of Masonic tradition.

Jacob's Ladder in the Bible

Genesis 28:10-17 (New King James Version)

Jacob’s Vow at Bethel

10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 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.

13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep[a] you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”