The Motif of Jacob’s Ladder (Gen 28:10–22) in the Ancient Symbolism of Western Christianity

• Authors: Krzysztof Bardski

Abstracts

EN

The “Jacob’s ladder” episode from the book of Genesis inspired numerous symbolic interpretations in ancient Christianity. Most often we encounter moral symbolism, which basically proceeds in two directions. Following Tertullian, “descending angels” symbolize sinners, and “ascending” – righteous people. According to Augustine, “descending” mean those who take care of the needs of others, while “ascending” are those who direct their hearts to God. For Jerome, ascending and descending angels symbolize not so much people as the mercy of God who descends to the sinner, whereas for Ambrose and Zeno of Verona the ladder represents the Old and New Testament, and its rungs – the Christian virtues. An important literary motif in the story of the “Jacob’s ladder” is the stone under the Patriarch’s head, which in the Christian tradition assumes a Christological meaning.

Keywords

EN

Bible; Book of Genesis; Jacob’s ladder; symbol; interpretation

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie
• Journal: Collectanea Theologica
• Year: 2020
• Volume: 90
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 83-93

Dates

published

2020

Contributors

author

Krzysztof Bardski

• Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw

• https://orcid.org/0000000283403993

References

• Krzysztof Bardski, “Motyw Drabiny Jakubowej (Rdz 28,10–22) W starożytnej Symbolice Zachodniego chrześcijaństwa,” Collectanea Theologica 88 (2019) no. 4, 191–201.
• Ambrose, Enarrationes in XII Psalmos Davidicos.
• Ambrose, De excessu fratris sui Satyrus.
• Ambrose (Pseudo), Expositio in Apocalypsim.
• Augustine, De civitate Dei.
• Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos.
• Augustine, Sermones de Scripturis.
• Augustine, Contra Faustum Manichaeum.
• Augustine, In Ioannis Evangelium tractatus.
• Hilary of Poitiers, De Trinitate.
• Jerome, Contra Joannem Hierosolymitanum.
• Jerome, Epistola 18 ad Damasum.
• Jerome, Commentaria in Ezechielem.
• Passio SS. Perpetuae et Felicitatis.
• Tertullian, Adversus Marcionem.
• Tertullian, De fuga in persecutione.
• Zeno of Verona, Tractatus.

Identifiers

DOI

10.21697/ct.2020.90.5.05

Biblioteka Nauki

2030681