Jacob's Ladder
Genesis 28
Isaac blesses Jacob again and sends him to Laban's household in Mesopotamia to find a wife, while Esau, seeing this displeased his father, takes a wife from the family of Ismael. On the way Jacob sleeps at a certain place and dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it, and the Lord renews his promises there; Jacob names the place the House of God and vows to give the Lord a tenth of all he receives.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonUPON this Isaak called Jacob to him and blessed him and charged him saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of the Chananites.
BrentonAnd Isaac having called for Jacob, blessed him, and charged him, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of the Chananites.
GreekΠροσκαλεσάμενος δὲ Ἰσαὰκ τὸν Ἰακὼβ, εὐλόγησεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ, λέγων, οὐ λήψῃ γυναῖκα ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων τῶν Χαναναίων.
KJVAnd Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
JPSAnd Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him: ‘Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
2
ThomsonArise and go to Mesopotamia and to the house of Bathuel thy mother’s father, and take thence a wife for thyself of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.
BrentonRise and depart quickly into Mesopotamia, to the house of Bathuel the father of thy mother, and take to thyself thence a wife of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
GreekἈναστὰς ἀπόδραθι εἰς τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν, εἰς τὸν οἶκον Βαθουὴλ τοῦ πατρὸς τῆς μητρός σου, καὶ λάβε σεαυτῷ ἐκεῖθεν γυναῖκα ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων Λάβαν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ τῆς μητρός σου.
KJVArise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.
JPSArise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.
3
ThomsonAnd may my God bless thee and make thee fruitful and multiply thee, that thou mayst become a multitude of nations.
BrentonAnd may my God bless thee, and increase thee, and multiply thee, and thou shalt become gatherings of nations.
GreekὉ δὲ Θεός μου εὐλογήσαι σε, καὶ αὐξήσαι σε, καὶ πληθύναι σε· καὶ ἔσῃ εἰς συναγωγὰς ἐθνῶν.
KJVAnd God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
JPSAnd God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a congregation of peoples;
4
ThomsonAnd may he give thee the blessing of my father Abraham, to thee and thy seed after thee, to inherit this land of thy sojourning, which God gave to Abraham.
BrentonAnd may he give thee the blessing of my father Abraam, even to thee and to thy seed after thee, to inherit the land of thy sojourning, which God gave to Abraam.
GreekΚαὶ δῴη σοι τὴν εὐλόγιαν Ἁβραὰμ τοῦ πατρός μου, σοὶ καὶ τῷ σπέρματί σου μετὰ σὲ, κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν τῆς παροικήσεώς σου, ἣν ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἁβραάμ.
KJVAnd give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
JPSand give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham.’
5
ThomsonSo Isaak sent away Jacob and he went to Mesopotamia to Laban the son of Bathuel the Syrian the brother of Rebekka who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.
BrentonSo Isaac sent away Jacob, and he went into Mesopotamia to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebecca the mother of Jacob and Esau.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἰσαὰκ τὸν Ἰακώβ· καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν πρὸς Λάβαν τὸν υἱὸν Βαθουὴλ τοῦ Σύρου, ἀδελφὸν Ῥεβέκκας τῆς μητρὸς Ἰακὼβ καὶ Ἡσαῦ.
KJVAnd Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.
JPSAnd Isaac sent away Jacob; and he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.
6
ThomsonWhen Esau saw that Isaak had blessed Jacob and sent him to Syro Mesopotamia to take there a wife for himself, and that when he blessed him he charged him saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of the Chananites;
BrentonAnd Esau saw that Isaac blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Mesopotamia of Syria as he blessed him, to take to himself a wife thence, and that he charged him, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of the Chananites;
GreekἼδε δὲ Ἡσαῦ ὅτι εὐλόγησεν Ἰσαὰκ τὸν Ἰακὼβ, καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν Συρίας, λαβεῖν ἑαυτῷ γυναῖκα ἐκεῖθεν, ἐν τῷ εὐλογεῖν αὐτόν· καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ, λέγων, οὐ λήψῃ γυναῖκα ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων τῶν Χαναναίων.
KJVWhen Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;
JPSNow Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying: ‘Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan’;
7
Thomsonand that Jacob hearkened to his father and mother and was gone to Syrian Mesopotamia,
Brentonand that Jacob hearkened to his father and his mother, and went to Mesopotamia of Syria.
GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσεν Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν Συρίας.
KJVAnd that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;
JPSand that Jacob hearkened to his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram;
8
ThomsonEsau seeing that the daughters of the Chananites were displeasing in the sight of his father Isaak,
BrentonAnd Esau also having seen that the daughters of Chanaan were evil before his father Isaac,
GreekἸδὼν δὲ καὶ Ἡσαῦ ὅτι πονηραί εἰσιν αἱ θυγατέρες Χαναὰν ἐναντίον Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ,
KJVAnd Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;
JPSand Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; .
9
Thomsonwent to Ismael and in addition to his other wives took to wife Maeleth the daughter of Ismael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nabaioth.
BrentonEsau went to Ismael, and took Maeleth the daughter of Ismael, the son of Abraam, the sister of Nabeoth, a wife in addition to his other wives.
Greekἐπορεύθη Ἡσαῦ πρὸς Ἰσμαήλ· καὶ ἔλαβε τὴν Μαελὲθ, θυγατέρα Ἰσμαὴλ τοῦ υἱοῦ Ἁβραὰμ, ἀδελφὴν Ναβεὼθ, πρὸς ταῖς γυναιξὶν αὐτοῦ γυναῖκα.
KJVThen went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
JPSso Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.
10
ThomsonNow when Jacob set out from Well of the Oath, and was proceeding on his journey to Charran
BrentonAnd Jacob went forth from the well of the oath, and departed into Charrhan.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ἰακὼβ ἀπὸ τοῦ φρέατος τοῦ ὅρκου, καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Χαῤῥάν.
KJVAnd Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
JPSAnd Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.
11
Thomsonhe came to a place and went to rest there, for the sun was setting. Having taken one of the stones of the place and put it at this head he composed himself to rest in that place
BrentonAnd came to a certain place and slept there, for the sun had gone down; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it at his head, and lay down to sleep in that place,
GreekΚαὶ ἀπήντησε τόπῳ, καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἐκεῖ, ἔδυ γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος· καὶ ἔλαβεν ἀπὸ τῶν λίθων τοῦ τόπου, καὶ ἔθηκε πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἐκείνῳ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd he lighted upon the place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.
12
Thomsonand dreamed; and lo! a ladder set on the earth, the top of which reached up to heaven and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Brentonand dreamed, and behold a ladder fixed on the earth, whose top reached to heaven, and the angels of God ascended and descended on it.
GreekΚαὶ 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.
KJVAnd 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.
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.
13
ThomsonAnd the Lord leaned over it and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father and the God of Isaak. Fear not. To thee and to thy seed I will give the land in which thou art sleeping.
BrentonAnd the Lord stood upon it, and said, I am the God of thy father Abraam, and the God of Isaac; fear not, the land on which thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.
GreekὉ δὲ Κύριος ἐπεστήρικτο ἐπʼ αὐτῆς· καὶ εἶπεν, ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ Θεὸς Ἁβραὰμ τοῦ πατρός σου, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσαάκ· μὴ φοβοῦ· ἡ γῆ ἐφʼ ἧς σὺ καθεύδεις ἐπʼ αὐτῆς, σοὶ δώσω αὐτὴν, καὶ τῷ σπέρματί σου.
KJVAnd, 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;
JPSAnd, behold, the LORD stood beside him, and said: ‘I am the LORD, the 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.
14
ThomsonAnd thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and shall spread abroad to the west and the south, and the north and the east. And by thee all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed, namely by the seed of thee.
BrentonAnd thy seed shall be as the sand of the earth; and it shall spread abroad to the sea, and the south, and the north, and to the east; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς γῆς, καὶ πλατυνθήσεται ἐπὶ θάλασσαν, καὶ Λίβα, καὶ Βοῤῥὰν, καὶ ἐπὶ ἀνατολάς· καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν σοὶ πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου.
KJVAnd thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
JPSAnd thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15
ThomsonAnd lo! I am with thee watching over thee in all the way thou goest and I will bring thee back to this land: for I will not leave thee until I have done all that I have spoken to thee.
BrentonAnd behold I am with thee to preserve thee continually in all the way wherein thou shalt go; and I will bring thee back to this land; for I will not desert thee, until I have done all that I have said to thee.
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγώ εἰμι μετὰ σοῦ, διαφυλάσσων σε ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ πάσῃ, οὗ ἂν πορευθῇς· καὶ ἀποστρέψω σε εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην· ὅτι οὐ μή σε ἐγκαταλίπω, ἕως τοῦ ποιῆσαί με πάντα ὅσα ἐλάλησά σοι.
KJVAnd, 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.
JPSAnd, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.’
16
ThomsonAnd when Jacob awoke from his sleep he said, Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not.
BrentonAnd Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and said, The Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξηγέρθη Ἰακὼβ ἐκ τοῦ ὕπνου αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπεν, ὅτι ἔστι Κύριος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ, ἐγὼ δὲ οὐκ ᾔδειν.
KJVAnd Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
JPSAnd Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said: ‘Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.’
17
ThomsonAnd he was terrified and said, How awful is this place; This is no other than the house of God. And this is the gate of heaven.
BrentonAnd he was afraid, and said, How fearful is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
GreekΚαὶ ἐφοβήθη, καὶ εἶπεν, ὡς φοβερὸς ὁ τόπος οὗτος· οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτο ἀλλʼ ἢ οἶκος Θεοῦ, καὶ αὕτη ἡ πύλη τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.
KJVAnd he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
JPSAnd he was afraid, and said: ‘How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’
18
ThomsonSo when Jacob arose in the morning he took the stone which he had there put at his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on the top of it;
BrentonAnd Jacob rose up in the morning, and took the stone he had laid there by his head, and he set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστη Ἰακὼβ τὸ πρωῒ, καὶ ἔλαβε τὸν λίθον, ὃν ὑπέθηκεν ἐκεῖ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτὸν στήλην, καὶ ἐπέχεεν ἔλαιον ἐπὶ τὸ ἄκρον αὐτῆς.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19
Thomsonand called the name of that place House of God. But the first name of this city was Oulamluz.
BrentonAnd he called the name of that place, the House of God; and the name of the city before was Ulam-luz.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου, οἶκος Θεοῦ· καὶ Οὐλαμλοὺζ ἦν ὄνομα τῇ πόλει τὸ πρότερον.
KJVAnd he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
JPSAnd he called the name of that place Beth-el, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
20
ThomsonAnd Jacob made a vow saying, If the Lord God will be with me and watch over me in the way in which I am going and give me bread to eat and raiment to clothe me
BrentonAnd Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If the Lord God will be with me, and guard me throughout on this journey, on which I am going, and give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
GreekΚαὶ ηὔξατο Ἰακὼβ εὐχὴν, λέγων, ἐὰν ᾖ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς μετʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ διαφυλάξῃ με ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ταύτῃ, ᾗ ἐγὼ πορεύομαι, καὶ δῷ μοι ἄρτον φαγεῖν, καὶ ἱμάτιον περιβαλέσθαι,
KJVAnd Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
JPSAnd Jacob vowed a vow, saying: ‘If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21
Thomsonand bring me back safely to my father’s house, The Lord shall be my God.
Brentonand bring me back in safety to the house of my father, then shall the Lord be for a God to me.
Greekκαὶ ἀποστρέψῃ με μετὰ σωτηρίας εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός μου, καὶ ἔσται Κύριός μοι εἰς Θεόν.
KJVSo that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
JPSso that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then shall the LORD be my God,
22
ThomsonAnd this stone which I have set up as a pillar shall be for a house of God. And of all that thou mayst give me I will set apart a tenth for thee.
BrentonAnd this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be to me a house of God; and of all whatsoever thou shalt give me, I will tithe a tenth for thee.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ λίθος οὗτος, ὃν ἔστησα στήλην, ἔσται μοι οἶκος Θεοῦ· καὶ πάντων ὧν ἐάν μοι δῷς, δεκάτην ἀποδεκατώσω αὐτά σοι.
KJVAnd this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
JPSand this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house; and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.’