LABAN

Source: 551, 556, 557, 560, 565

A rich herdsman of Mesopotamia, son of Bethuel, and grandson of Mahor, Abraham’s brother, Ge 24:28-31. His character is shown in the gladness with which he gave his sister Rebekah in marriage to the only son of his rich uncle, Abraham, Ge 24:30,50; and in his deceitful and exacting treatment of Jacob his nephew and son-inlaw, against which Jacob defended himself by cunning as well as fidelity. When the prosperity of the one family and the jealousy of the other rendered peace impossible, Jacob, at the command of God, secretly departed, to go to Canaan. Laban pursued him; but being warned by God to do him no harm, returned home after making a treaty of peace. He seems to have known and worshipped God, Ge 24:50 30:27 31:53; but the "gods" or teraphim which Rachel stole from her father, Ge 31:30,34, show that he was not without the taint of idolatry.

---

Laban. Laban
White. (1.) The son of Bethuel, who was the son of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. He lived at Haran in Mesopotamia. His sister Rebekah was Isaac’s wife (Gen. 24). 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.)

(2.) A city in the Arabian desert in the route of the Israelites (Deut. 1:1), probably identical with Libnah (Num. 33:20).

---

Laban. white; shining; gentle; brittle

---

LABAN. → Son of Bethuel Ge 28:5 → Brother of Rebekah Ge 22:23; 24:15,29 → Receives the servant of Abraham Ge 24:29-33 → Receives Jacob, and gives him his daughters in marriage Ge 29:12-30 → Jacob becomes his servant Ge 29:15-20,27; 30:27-43 → Outwitted by Jacob Ge 30:37-43; 31:1-21 → Pursues Jacob, overtakes him at Mount Gilead, and covenants with him Ge 31:22-55

---

brother of Rebekah Ge 24:29; 29:16; 31:1,26,51