Analysis of Jacob's Ladder

John Newton 1725 (Wapping, London) – 1807 (London)



If the Lord our leader be,
We may follow without fear;
East or West, by land or sea,
Home, with him, is everywhere;
When from Esau Jacob fled,
Though his pillow was a stone,
And the ground his humble bed,
Yet he was not left alone.

Kings are often waking kept,
Racked with cares on beds of state;
Never king like Jacob slept.
For he lay at heaven's gate:
Lo! he saw a ladder reared,
Reaching to the heav'nly throne;
At the top the Lord appeared,
Spake and claimed him for his own.

Fear not, Jacob, thou art mine,
And my presence with thee goes;
On thy heart my love shall shine,
And my arm subdue thy foes:
From my promise comfort take;
For my help in trouble call;
Never will I thee forsake,
'Till I have accomplished all.

Well does Jacob's ladder suit
To the gospel throne of grace;
We are at the ladder's foot,
Every hour, in every place
By affirming flesh and blood,
Jesus heav'n and earth unites;
We by faith ascend to God,
God to dwell with us delights.

They who know the Saviour's name,
Are for all events prepared
What can changes do to them,
Who have such a Guide and Guard?
Should they traverse earth around,
To the ladder still they come;
Every spot is holy ground,
God is there - and he's their home.


Scheme AXAXBCBC DEDEFCFC GHGHIJIJ XKXKXLXL XXXXMXMX
Poetic Form Etheree  (33%)
Metre 10110101 1110011 1111111 111110 111101 1110101 0011101 1111101 1110101 1111111 1011101 1111101 1110101 101011 1010101 1011111 1110111 0110111 1111111 0110111 1110101 1110101 1011101 1110101 1110101 1010111 111011 1001001001 1010101 1010101 1110111 1111101 111011 1110101 1110111 1110101 1110101 1010111 10011101 1110111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,185
Words 233
Sentences 9
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 40
Letters per line (avg) 23
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 186
Words per stanza (avg) 46
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:12 min read
155

John Newton

Rev Dr John A Newton CBE is a prominent Methodist minister, author, historian and former President of the Methodist Conference. more…

All John Newton poems | John Newton Books

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