Jacob's ladder

¹

noun

1. (in the Bible) a ladder seen by Jacob in a dream, reaching from the earth to heaven.
2. Nautical.
   1. Also called jack ladder, a hanging ladder having ropes or chains supporting wooden or metal rungs or steps.
   2. any ladderlike arrangement aloft other than one of rattled shrouds.

Jacob's-ladder

²

[ jey-kuhbz-lad-er ]

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Polemonium, of the phlox family, especially P. caeruleum (or P. van-bruntiae ), having blue, cup-shaped flowers and paired leaflets in a ladderlike arrangement.

Jacob's ladder

noun

1. Old Testament the ladder reaching up to heaven that Jacob saw in a dream (Genesis 28:12–17)
2. Also calledjack ladder a ladder made of wooden or metal steps supported by ropes or chains
3. a North American polemoniaceous plant, Polemonium caeruleum , with blue flowers and a ladder-like arrangement of leaves
4. any of several similar or related plants

Jacob's ladder

1. A ladder that Jacob saw in a dream. After he had obtained his brother Esau's birthright and received his father's blessing, he had a vision of the angels of God ascending and descending a ladder that extended from Earth to heaven . God, who stood at the top of the ladder, promised to bless Jacob and his offspring and to bring his descendants into the Promised Land . ( See Jacob and Esau .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Jacob's ladder¹

First recorded in 1840–45 Jacob's ladder fordef 2

Origin of Jacob's ladder²

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

Dan grasped the swaying rope ladder, known as a Jacobs ladder, and ran up with agility.

From Project Gutenberg

One of these, about half-way up the mountain, is called Jacobs Ladder.

From Project Gutenberg

We crossed through Jacobs Ladder where were six-hundred steps cut into the solid ice.

From Project Gutenberg

With the help of the boatmen and my servant I constructed a Jacobs-ladder, by means of which I scrambled up.

From Project Gutenberg

Mtivet, which represents a Jacobs ladder crowded with book-loving angels.

From Project Gutenberg