Laban

Also known as: Laban the Syrian · Family: Nahor's family · Role: brother of Rebekah · First appears: Genesis 24

In Genesis 24, Laban was Rebekah’s brother and joined Bethuel in approving her marriage to Isaac as proceeding from the LORD. When Rebekah agreed to leave immediately with the servant, Laban and the household sent her away and blessed her: “Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions.” In Genesis 28, Laban was identified as the son of Bethuel, the brother of Jacob and Esau’s mother, and in Genesis 29 as the son of Nahor.

In Genesis 29, Laban was the father of Leah and Rachel, employed Jacob, and gave Zilpah and Bilhah to his daughters as handmaids. He gave Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel, then gave Rachel to him after Jacob fulfilled Leah’s week and agreed to serve seven more years. In Genesis 30, Laban and Jacob set Jacob’s wages as selected speckled, spotted, and brown cattle; Laban separated those animals from the rest of the flock, while Jacob’s stronger flocks increased and Laban’s weaker flocks remained. Laban said he had learned that the LORD had blessed him for Jacob’s sake.

In Genesis 31, Rachel stole Laban’s household images, and Jacob secretly fled with his cattle and possessions. God warned Laban in a dream not to speak harmfully to Jacob, but Laban overtook him at mount Gilead, where they established a covenant “for a witness between me and thee.” Early the next morning, Laban kissed and blessed his sons and daughters, then departed and returned to his place.