Jacob's ladder

¹ American  

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.  Also called pilot 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.

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Jacob's-ladder ² American  

[jey-kuhbz-lad-er] / ˈdʒeɪ kəbzˈlæd ər /

noun

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

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Jacob's ladder British  

noun

1. Old Testament the ladder reaching up to heaven that Jacob saw in a dream (Genesis 28:12–17)

2. Also called: jack 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

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Jacob's ladder Cultural  

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.)

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Etymology

Origin of Jacob's ladder¹

First recorded in 1840–45 Jacob's ladder for def. 2

Origin of Jacob's-ladder²

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

The jungle gym has a three-dimension-ish thing going on where the jail cell windows have a two-ish-ness and Jacob’s ladder is more one-ish.

From Scientific American • Nov. 5, 2017

I must admit, though, this picture by Spencer Dowdall depicting Nessie as the Jacob's ladder version of the surface helps. 

From Scientific American • Nov. 5, 2017

But though lyrics asking to be healed and describing an ascent of Jacob's ladder might seem ludicrous on paper, Ashcroft's self-belief and charisma makes some of them sound compelling.

From The Guardian • Jun. 16, 2010

Where is Jacob's ladder or Matthew's account of the wise men "warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod"?

From Time Magazine Archive

‘How am I to get that handkerchief?’ cried he; ‘why I should need Jacob’s ladder!’

From The Orange Fairy Book by Various