Laban is a significant figure in the Old Testament, primarily known for his interactions with Jacob, the patriarch. He is introduced in the Book of Genesis as the son of Bethuel and the brother of Rebekah, making him the uncle of Jacob. Laban's account is intertwined with themes of family, covenant, and divine providence.

Family and Background

Laban resided in Paddan-aram, a region in Mesopotamia, which is modern-day northern Syria. He was a member of the Aramean people, as indicated in Genesis 25:20: "And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife" . Laban's family was part of the broader narrative of the patriarchs, connected to Abraham's lineage through his sister Rebekah, who married Isaac.

Laban and Jacob

Laban's most notable biblical role is in the account of Jacob. After Jacob deceived his brother Esau and fled to avoid his wrath, he sought refuge with Laban, his mother's brother. Upon arrival, Jacob fell in love with Laban's younger daughter, Rachel. Laban agreed to give Rachel to Jacob in marriage in exchange for seven years of labor. However, Laban deceived Jacob by substituting Leah, his elder daughter, on the wedding night. This act of deception is recorded in Genesis 29:25: "So in the morning Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?'" .

Laban's actions led to Jacob serving an additional seven years for Rachel, highlighting Laban's cunning and opportunistic nature. Despite this, God continued to bless Jacob, and he prospered under Laban's employment, eventually acquiring significant wealth and livestock.

Laban's Household Gods

Another significant episode involving Laban is the incident with the household gods, or "teraphim." When Jacob decided to return to Canaan, Rachel stole her father's household gods. Laban pursued Jacob, accusing him of theft. In Genesis 31:30, Laban confronts Jacob: "Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?" . This incident underscores the cultural and religious differences between Laban's household and Jacob's monotheistic faith.

Covenant at Mizpah

The relationship between Jacob and Laban culminated in a covenant at Mizpah. After a tense confrontation, they agreed to a boundary marked by a heap of stones, signifying peace and mutual non-aggression. Laban declared in Genesis 31:49: "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other" . This covenant, while ensuring peace, also reflected the deep mistrust between the two men.

Legacy and Significance

Laban's interactions with Jacob are pivotal in the narrative of the Israelite patriarchs. His actions, characterized by deception and self-interest, contrast with God's faithfulness to Jacob. Laban's account serves as a backdrop to the unfolding of God's promises to Abraham's descendants, illustrating the challenges and divine interventions that shaped the early history of Israel.3837a. Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob
... 3837, 3837a. Laban. 3837b . father-in-law of Jacob. Transliteration: Laban
Short Definition: Laban. Word Origin from laben Definition ...
/hebrew/3837a.htm - 5k

Christ's Pastoral Prayer for his People
... As Jacob kept his uncle's flocks, by day the heat devoured him, and at night the
frost but he was more careful over them because they were Laban's than if they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/christs pastoral prayer for his.htm

"Altogether Absurd, and Out of Season," He Continues, "Is the ...
... He ridicules, moreover, the acquisition of property made by Jacob while living with
Laban, not understanding to what these words refer: "And those which had no ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xliii altogether absurd and.htm

Chapter xxix
... And he said to them: Do ye know Laban, the son of Nahor? ... Besides, even then the
shepherds were anticipating the arrival of Laban's daughter, Rachel. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxix.htm

Chapter xxx
... 25, 26. And it came to pass that when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to
Laban: Let me go that I may depart to my place and to my country. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxx.htm

Chapter xxxi
... CHAPTER XXXI. 7. Jacob's Flight from Laban; their Treaty (31:1-54) ... And Jacob observed
Laban's face, and it certainly was no longer as it had formerly been. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxi.htm

Here Beginneth the Life of Isaac
... but go and walk into Mesopotamia of Syria, unto the house of Bethuel, father of
thy mother, and take to thee there a wife of the daughters of Laban thine uncle ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here beginneth the life of.htm

Chapter xxxii
... 31:55-32:2. And Laban arose early in the morning and kissed his grandchildren
and his daughters and blessed them. Thereupon Laban ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxii.htm

Of the Union of Our Will to the Good-Pleasure of God by ...
... On the contrary, if Jacob had only loved in Rachel the alliance with Laban, to which
his father Isaac had obliged him, Lia would have been as dear unto him as ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iv of the union.htm

That Perfect virtues are Never one Without the Other.
... If Jacob loved Rachel in consideration of her being Laban's daughter, why did he
despise Lia who was not only the daughter, but the eldest daughter, of the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii that perfect virtues.htm

Meeting a Brother who had Been Wronged
... But he heard Laban's sons say, "Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from
that which was our father's he has gotten all this wealth." He also saw ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/meeting a brother who had.htm

Laban's (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Laban's (6 Occurrences). Genesis 29:10 Then when
Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's ...
/l/laban's.htm - 8k

Flocks (128 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Genesis 30:36 He set three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob
fed the rest of Laban's flocks. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS NIV). ...
/f/flocks.htm - 38k

Laban (52 Occurrences)
... Jacob, one of the sons of this marriage, fled to the house of Laban, whose daughters
Leah and Rachel (ch. 29) he eventually married. (see JACOB.). ...LABAN. ...
/l/laban.htm - 28k

Flock (242 Occurrences)
... Genesis 29:10 It happened, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother's
brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went near ...
/f/flock.htm - 39k

Rolling (32 Occurrences)
... Genesis 29:10 Then when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother,
coming with Laban's sheep, he came near, and rolling the stone away from ...
/r/rolling.htm - 16k

Belonged (105 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:40 Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward
the streaked and all the black in the flock of Laban: and he put his own droves ...
/b/belonged.htm - 36k

Hole (88 Occurrences)
... Genesis 29:10 Then when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother,
coming with Laban's sheep, he came near, and rolling the stone away from ...
/h/hole.htm - 33k

Animals (224 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:40 Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward
the streaked and all the black in the flock of Laban: and he put his own droves ...
/a/animals.htm - 37k

Owned (18 Occurrences)
... thigh. (See NAS). Genesis 31:1 He heard the words of Laban's sons, saying,
"Jacob has taken away all that was our father's. From ...
/o/owned.htm - 11k

Labana

/l/labana.htm - 6k

Who was Laban in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jacob in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Rachel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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