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11 At sunset he stopped for the night and went to sleep, resting his head on a large rock. 12 (A) In a dream he saw a ladder that reached from earth to heaven, and God's angels were going up and down on it.

13 (B) The Lord was standing beside the ladder[a] and said:

I am the Lord God who was worshiped by Abraham and Isaac. I will give to you and your family the land on which you are now sleeping. 14 (C) Your descendants will spread over the earth in all directions and will become as numerous as the specks of dust. Your family will be a blessing to all people.[b] 15 Wherever you go, I will watch over you, then later I will bring you back to this land. I won't leave you—I will do all I have promised.

16 Jacob woke up suddenly and thought, “The Lord is in this place, and I didn't even know it.” 17 Then Jacob became frightened and said, “What a frightening place! It must be the house of God and the gateway to heaven.”

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Footnotes

  1. 28.13 the ladder: Or “Jacob” or “the stairway.”
  2. 28.14 Your family … people: Or “All people will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your family.”

11 When he reached a certain place,(A) he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head(B) and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream(C) in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.(D) 13 There above it[a] stood the Lord,(E) and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.(F) I will give you and your descendants the land(G) on which you are lying.(H) 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you(I) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.(J) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[b](K) 15 I am with you(L) and will watch over you(M) wherever you go,(N) and I will bring you back to this land.(O) I will not leave you(P) until I have done what I have promised you.(Q)(R)

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep,(S) he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!(T) This is none other than the house of God;(U) this is the gate of heaven.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 28:13 Or There beside him
  2. Genesis 28:14 Or will use your name and the name of your offspring in blessings (see 48:20)