Laban
“White”
Summary
The Aramean kinsman of Abraham who was the father of Leah and Rachel and who employed Jacob for twenty years in Mesopotamia.
☩Family Background
Laban was an Aramean (Syrian) who lived in Haran in Mesopotamia. He was the son of Bethuel and the grandson of Nahor, Abraham's brother, making him a kinsman of Abraham's family (Genesis 24:15, 29; 28:5). His name means 'white,' possibly referring to the white poplars growing in his region. As a sheep owner in Mesopotamia, Laban represented the branch of Terah's family that remained in Haran when Abraham departed for Canaan. He lived in what was called Paddan-Aram or 'the field of Aram.'
☩The Marriage of Rebekah
Laban first appears in Scripture when Abraham's servant came seeking a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24). Though his father Bethuel was still living, Laban took the leading role in negotiating his sister Rebekah's marriage. His eager hospitality toward Abraham's wealthy servant, immediately following his observation of the gifts given to Rebekah, has traditionally been interpreted as evidence of his covetousness (Genesis 24:30-31). Nevertheless, Laban and Bethuel acknowledged divine guidance in the matter, saying 'The thing proceedeth from the LORD' (Genesis 24:50).
☩Jacob's Service
Some ninety years after Rebekah's departure, Jacob arrived at Laban's home, fleeing from Esau's anger. Laban received his nephew warmly, and Jacob agreed to serve seven years for Rachel, Laban's younger daughter. When the time came, Laban deceitfully substituted Leah, the elder daughter, in the wedding ceremony—a deception that caused Jacob to serve an additional seven years for Rachel (Genesis 29:15-30). This act of treachery would later provoke Jacob's bitter complaint: 'These twenty years have I been with thee' (Genesis 31:38).
☩Conflict and Departure
As Jacob prospered through his clever management of Laban's flocks, tensions arose between them. Laban had changed Jacob's wages ten times, always to his own advantage (Genesis 31:7, 41). When Jacob secretly departed with his wives and possessions, Laban pursued him for seven days, overtaking him at Mount Gilead. He charged Jacob with stealing away his daughters and taking his household gods, which Rachel had secretly hidden (Genesis 31:19-35). After heated accusations, Laban was warned by God not to harm Jacob. The two men erected a pillar at Mizpah and made a covenant, with Laban calling it 'Jegar-sahadutha' in Aramaic while Jacob used the Hebrew 'Galeed' (Genesis 31:47). They parted in peace, never to meet again.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Laban," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Laban," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Laban (1)," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.George Morrish, "Laban," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).