סֻלָּם (sul.lam)
sul.lam
ladder
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sulam appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in Genesis 28:12. It describes the object Jacob sees in his dream at Bethel, a structure reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. The word simply means "ladder" or "stairway," serving as the central image of that famous vision.
Its rarity makes this single occurrence particularly significant. Rather than a common architectural term, sulam functions here as a unique symbol of connection between the divine and human realms. It illustrates a point of contact where heaven and earth intersect, a theme that resonates throughout biblical theology without ever reusing this specific word.
Translators consistently render sulam as "ladder," though some modern versions use "stairway" to emphasize its function as a bridge. The choice reflects the text’s focus on movement and access. This solitary usage leaves the precise nature of the structure open, allowing it to stand as a powerful metaphor for divine initiative and connection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jacob felt alone and uncertain in his journey, he encountered a stairway reaching from earth to heaven. This image reminds us that God initiates connection with us, even when we feel distant or afraid. The angels moving between realms show that the divine world is not closed off but actively engaged with our daily lives.
This single word teaches that heaven and earth are not separated by an unbridgeable gap. Instead, there is a point of contact where God meets humanity. You do not need to climb up on your own strength; the structure is already set in place, inviting you into relationship with Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a stairway1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סֻלָּם֙1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 28:12
He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
This verse establishes the stairway as the physical bridge where angels move between the human and divine realms, symbolizing God's active presence in Jacob's uncertain journey.