Lexical Summary Laban: Laban Original Word: לָבָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Laban The same as laban; Laban, a Mesopotamian; also a place in the Desert -- Laban. see HEBREW laban Brown-Driver-Briggs II. לָבָן54 proper name, masculine son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father-in-law of Jacob (ᵐ5 Λαβαν), Genesis 24:29 (twice in verse); Genesis 24:50; Genesis 27:43; Genesis 28:2,5 17t. J (Gen 29, 30, 31, 32); Genesis 29:15,16,19,21,22,26 18t. E (Gen 31, 32, הָאֲרַמִּי ׳ל Genesis 31:24); Genesis 25:20 (הָאֲרַמִּי ׳ל) Genesis 28:5 (id.), also Genesis 28:2; Genesis 29:24,29; Genesis 46:18,25 (all P). III. לָבָן proper name, of a location, connected with desert-journey of Israelites Deuteronomy 1:1, ᵐ5 Λοβαν; possibly = לִבְנָה 2, q. v. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope of the NameLaban (“white”) is the personal name of Rebekah’s brother and the father-in-law of Jacob. All of the roughly fifty-five Old Testament occurrences belong to this single individual, with one possible geographical echo in Deuteronomy 1:1 (“Laban” traditionally rendered “Laban” or “white”). Every occurrence is clustered in Genesis 24–31, with genealogical after-notes in Genesis 46 and Numbers 26. His account bridges the Abrahamic and Jacob narratives and becomes a theological backdrop for Israel’s self-understanding. Family Connections • Son of Bethuel the Aramean, descendant of Nahor (Genesis 25:20) These ties make Laban a pivotal conduit between the promises given to Abraham and their expansion in Jacob’s generation. First Appearance: The Betrothal of Rebekah (Genesis 24) When Abraham’s servant arrives in Paddan-Aram, Laban quickly takes charge: “Laban ran out to the man at the spring” (Genesis 24:29). His hospitable yet calculating nature surfaces when he sees the gold jewelry (24:30). Together with Bethuel he discerns God’s hand: “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter” (24:50). The episode shows Laban’s spiritual vocabulary, but also foreshadows his material motives. Jacob in Haran: Twenty Years under Laban (Genesis 27–31) 1. Flight and Welcome Jacob flees Esau and receives a warm embrace from his uncle: “Surely you are my own flesh and blood” (29:14). Laban’s initial kindness provides Jacob sanctuary, underscoring divine protection. 2. The Two Brides Laban’s deception—substituting Leah for Rachel after seven years of labor (29:23–25)—mirrors Jacob’s earlier deception of Isaac, revealing God’s providential discipline. The resulting marriages expand the covenant line, even through human scheming. 3. Negotiated Wages and Supernatural Increase Six more years follow, marked by changing wages and spotted-striped flock arrangements (30:28–34). Laban confesses, “The LORD has blessed me because of you” (30:27), acknowledging the covenant overflow to a Gentile household. 4. Secret Departure and Pursuit Jacob leaves secretly; Rachel steals the household idols (31:19). Three days later Laban pursues, but God intervenes in a dream: “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad” (31:24). The dream establishes divine boundaries around the covenant bearer. 5. Covenant of Mizpah The stone heap Galeed/Mizpah becomes a mutual witness: “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent from one another” (31:49). The covenant formally ends Laban’s control and underscores God as ultimate guarantor. Later Genealogical Mentions Genesis 46:18, 24 lists “sons of Laban’s daughters, Leah and Rachel,” cementing his role in Israel’s ancestry. Beyond Genesis, Laban is not named again, but Hosea alludes to the episode: “Jacob fled to the land of Aram; Israel worked for a wife” (Hosea 12:12). Character Study • Industrious patriarch who prospers through association with the covenant line The Scripture presents Laban neither as a caricatured villain nor as a model saint, but as a real historical actor through whom God’s faithfulness shines. Theological Themes 1. Sovereign Grace over Human Scheming Laban’s tricks cannot annul God’s promise: Jacob leaves Haran “exceedingly prosperous” (30:43). 2. Sanctity of Marriage and Family Order The polygamous complications trace back to Laban’s deception, illustrating the cost of violating God-honoring transparency. 3. Covenant Witness and Accountability The Mizpah covenant anticipates later Israelite legal practices (Joshua 24). God Himself is invoked as the watching Judge. 4. Gentile Participation in Blessing Through Laban, the Abrahamic promise that “all peoples on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3) begins to unfold, foreshadowing the inclusion of the nations. Ministry and Discipleship Applications • God often uses difficult relationships (employers, in-laws) for shaping character. Christological Foreshadowing Jacob’s servitude for Rachel prefigures the greater Bridegroom who, through labor and suffering, secures His bride. Laban’s household gods contrast with the living God who enters covenant, pointing to Christ as the exclusive mediator. Distribution of References Approximately forty-five occurrences cluster in Genesis 29–31, seven in Genesis 24, two in genealogies, and one in Numbers 26. The density underscores how one extended narrative segment can shape biblical theology. Conclusion Laban stands as a vivid reminder that God’s redemptive plan advances even through flawed human agency. His interactions with the patriarchs highlight divine faithfulness, the weight of covenant, and the necessity of integrity before the God who watches “between you and me” to this day. Forms and Transliterations בְּלָבָ֑ן בלבן וְלָבָ֛ן וְלָבָ֣ן וְלָבָ֥ן וּלְלָבָ֖ן ולבן וללבן לְלָבָ֑ן לְלָבָ֔ן לְלָבָ֖ן לָבָ֑ן לָבָ֔ן לָבָ֖ן לָבָ֗ן לָבָ֛ן לָבָ֜ן לָבָ֣ן לָבָ֤ן לָבָ֥ן לָבָ֧ן לָבָֽן׃ לָבָן֙ לבן לבן׃ ללבן bə·lā·ḇān bəlāḇān belaVan lā·ḇān lāḇān laVan lə·lā·ḇān ləlāḇān lelaVan ū·lə·lā·ḇān ūləlāḇān ulelaVan velaVan wə·lā·ḇān wəlāḇānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 24:29 HEB: אָ֖ח וּשְׁמ֣וֹ לָבָ֑ן וַיָּ֨רָץ לָבָ֧ן NAS: whose name was Laban; and Laban KJV: and his name [was] Laban: and Laban INT: brother name was Laban ran and Laban Genesis 24:29 Genesis 24:50 Genesis 25:20 Genesis 27:43 Genesis 28:2 Genesis 28:5 Genesis 29:5 Genesis 29:10 Genesis 29:10 Genesis 29:10 Genesis 29:13 Genesis 29:13 Genesis 29:14 Genesis 29:15 Genesis 29:16 Genesis 29:19 Genesis 29:21 Genesis 29:22 Genesis 29:24 Genesis 29:25 Genesis 29:26 Genesis 29:29 Genesis 30:25 Genesis 30:27 55 Occurrences |
    |