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Bible story · Genesis 28:10–22

Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob dreams of a stairway to heaven, and God promises to be with him. A 2-minute animated story, told simply for children and families, with each verse from the King James Version.

Start the storyFor parents

1 of 8

Jacob left home and set out on a long journey alone, travelling towards the land of Haran.

And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.

Genesis 28:10 KJV

2 of 8

When the sun went down, he stopped for the night. He took a stone for a pillow and lay down to sleep.

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

Genesis 28:11 KJV

3 of 8

Jacob had a dream. He saw a stairway reaching from the earth all the way up to heaven, with God’s angels going up and down on it.

And 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.

Genesis 28:12 KJV

4 of 8

At the top stood the LORD. He said, “I am the God of Abraham and Isaac. I will give this land to you and your family.”

And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

Genesis 28:13 KJV

5 of 8

“I am with you,” God said. “I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.”

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Genesis 28:15 KJV

6 of 8

Jacob woke up and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I didn’t even know it!”

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

Genesis 28:16 KJV

7 of 8

Early in the morning, Jacob set up his stone pillow as a pillar and poured oil on top to remember what God had said.

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

Genesis 28:18 KJV

8 of 8

He named the place Bethel, which means “house of God.”

And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Genesis 28:19 KJV

The end

Next story: Joseph and His Coat

What does this story teach?

  • God is with us, even when we feel alone.
  • God can meet us anywhere, even in unexpected places.
  • God keeps watch over us wherever we go.
  • It is good to remember the times God has spoken to us.

Questions to talk about

Use these with your children after the story, at bedtime, at the table or in a class.

  1. Why do you think Jacob felt alone on his journey?
  2. What did Jacob see in his dream?
  3. What did God promise Jacob?
  4. How can you remember that God is with you?

Read the story in the Bible

This retelling uses simple words for young readers. Read the full account in Genesis 28:10–22, one verse per screen:

Genesis 28

Frequently asked questions

Where is the story of Jacob’s ladder in the Bible?

It is in Genesis 28:10–22, in the Old Testament. Jacob was travelling from Beer-sheba to his uncle Laban’s home in Haran.

What does Jacob’s ladder mean?

The stairway showed that heaven and earth are connected and that God was with Jacob. In John 1:51 Jesus refers to this dream, describing himself as the way between heaven and earth.

What does Bethel mean?

Bethel means “house of God.” Jacob gave the place this name after his dream (Genesis 28:19), because he realized God was there.

Why was Jacob travelling alone?

Jacob had tricked his brother Esau out of their father’s blessing (Genesis 27), and Esau was angry. Jacob’s mother sent him away to her brother Laban to keep him safe.

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