Definition:
A “ladder” is a device or tool used to climb up or down heights. It typically consists of a series of horizontal rungs attached to two longer vertical side beams.
Etymology:
The word “ladder” comes from the Old English “hlæder,” derived from the Proto-Germanic “hlaidri,” which means a series of steps or rungs. The term has been used in the English language since at least the 9th century.
Description:
The ladder of faith is a metaphorical test for trust in God. The question is, if you had found a ladder leading to heaven, would you have had enough faith to climb it? And when you have climbed so high that you reach the “point of no return,” where you have expended half of your energy but still do not see the top of the ladder, would you still continue to climb upward, or would you have lost faith and begun to climb back down? The issue is that if you had continued to climb until you reached the top, you would have seen that the ladder simply stopped, and that there were no solid clouds for you to rest on.
Symbolism:
Similar to a staircase, a ladder can symbolize a hierarchy through its different rungs, where each rung represents a level of authority or significance.
A ladder is a symbol of imprisonment as it resembles a grid.
Religion:
A ladder is a symbol found in the Bible. In Genesis 28:12, Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels of God ascending and descending on it. Which is a reference to the angelic hierarchy.
In Mormon theology, based on teachings found in the Book of Mormon, the ladder is used as a symbol of the path to salvation or the development of one’s spiritual state. The ladder often represents the various levels of salvation or heavenly kingdoms that a person can achieve through faith.
In the Quran, in verse 53:12, it says: “And he saw him again at the star’s lowest horizon.” In Islamic theology, this refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey and ascension to the heavens, known as “Al-Israa and Al-Miraj,” during which he was taken to the heavens on a ladder.