Who and what is…
Laban

Hebrew: לָבָן‎ —transliteration: Laban —derived from the Hebrew root word לָבַן (lavan), meaning “white”

This is the name of a significant biblical man and a city.

  1. Laban, a great-nephew of Abraham

    also known as: Laban the Aramean

    Laban’s father is Bethuel, a son of Nahor—Abraham’s elder brother.

    He lived in Paddan Aram, near Haran in Mesopotamia. Laban was apparently prosperous and wealthy, but was also an idolator having household gods.

    Laban became Isaac’s brother-in-law, and Jacob’s father-in-law.

    Laban’s sister Rebekah was Isaac’s wife (Genesis 24).

    Jacob, one of the sons of this marriage, fled from Esau in Canaan to reach safety in the house of Laban. Upon arrival, Laban ran to meet him, and he embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house.

    Jacob fell in love with Laban’s younger daughter Rachel, his cousin, and they sought marriage.

    Laban did not make this easy for Jacob. Requiring a dowry of 7 years of labor, he then cheated Jacob by playing a very dirty deception which left Jacob married the wrong daughter, the elder sister Leah, not Rachel. Laban then required an additional dowry of 7 years labor for Rachel.

    Leah became the mother of 5 of the 12 tribes of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, and Judah. The Levites became caretakers of God’s sanctuary and priesthood. Judah became the ancestor of Jesus Christ.

    Rachel became the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

    Jacob was an excellent worker and flock manager for Laban. He not only raised herds for him, but also set legally raise flocks for himself. He was so sucessful with his personal herds that Laban’s sons became upset, unjustly complaining, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.” Laban became angry with Jacob, and causing Jacob to increasingly feel trapped in Laban’s domain.

    He decided to leave, but deceived Laban by not telling him that he was leaving. Unknown to Laban, he fled with both wives, their children, personal servants, and his accumulated personal wealth. Sadly, in leaving, “Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s,” which of course made Laban all the more angry.

    On the 3rd day, Laban discovered they had fled and chased them down with his people on a journey of 7 days, catching the refugees in the hill country of Gilead. During this time, God came to Laban in a warning night dream.

    Upon arrival, Laban told Jacob, “It is in my hand to do evil against you, but the God of your father spoke to me in a dream last night, saying, ‘Beware of speaking either good or evil to Jacob.’

    Laban searched Jacob’s tents. Jacob became angry.

    “What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? Though you have felt through all my goods, what have you found of all your household goods? Place it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may decide between us two. —Genesis 31:36-37 excerpt

    Jacob then proceeded to list the true nature of their relationship, noting how exceptionally faithful and honorable Jacob had been through their 20 years, despite difficulty and suffering.

    Then Laban answered,

    “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these daughters of mine or to their children whom they have borne?” —Genesis 31:43 excerpt

    After considering everything, Laban relented and offer to make a peaceful covenant with Jacob, marked by a raised pillar stone and a heap of stones. Laban said, “The pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me for harm.” Laban called this place Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed and Mizpah.

    Jacob then greatfully offered a sacrifice to Yahweh on the mountain that evening and provided a meal to his relatives. Laban arose early the next morning and “kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them” and departed for home (Gen. 31:54-55).

  2. Laban, a city

    This place was in the Arabian desert on the route of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 1:1).

    It is probably identical with Libnah (Numbers 33:20)—one of the wilderness camps of the Israelites following the Exodus.

    More information

Article Version: December 23, 2024