Laban (Person) — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Bethuel’s son (Gn 24:24, 29 OET GEN 24:24 · OET GEN 24:29), brother of Rebekah (vv 15, 29 OET GEN 24:15 · OET GEN 24:29), father of Leah and Rachel (29:16), and the uncle and father-in-law of Jacob. Laban’s forebears lived in Ur, but his father, Bethuel, was called the Aramean of Paddan-aram, and Laban also is referred to as the Aramean (KJB “Syrian,” 25:20; cf. 28:5). Their hometown was Haran, which was in Syria and which, like Ur, was a center of the worship of the moon god, Sin or Nannar.

Show passage in OET: GEN 24:24; GEN 24:29

OET-RV GEN 24:24

24 “I’m Betuel’s daughter. He’s the son of Nahor and Milkah,” she answered.

OET-RV GEN 24:29

29 Now Rivkah had a brother named Lavan (Laban), and he ran out to the man at the well.

OET-LV GEN 24:24

24 And_she/it _said to_him/it am_the _daughter _of Bətū^ʼēl I the _son _of Milkāh whom she _bore to_Nāḩōr.

OET-LV GEN 24:29

29 And_belonged_to_Riⱱqāh a _brother and_his/its_name was_Lāⱱān and_ Lāⱱān _he _ran to the_man to_the_outside to the_spring.

Show passage in OET: GEN 24:15; GEN 24:29

OET-RV GEN 24:15

15 Now before he’d even finished speaking, then wow, Rivkah arrived with her empty water jar on her shoulder. (She was Betuel’s daughter—Betuel being the son of Avraham’s brother Nahor and his wife Milkah.)

OET-RV GEN 24:29

29 Now Rivkah had a brother named Lavan (Laban), and he ran out to the man at the well.

OET-LV GEN 24:15

15 And_he/it _was he not _yet he _had _finished to_speak and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE Riⱱqāh who she _had _been _born to_Bətū^ʼēl the _son _of Milkāh the _wife _of Nāḩōr the _brother _of ʼAⱱrāhām was_coming _out and_jar _of_her was_on shoulder _of_her.

OET-LV GEN 24:29

29 And_belonged_to_Riⱱqāh a _brother and_his/its_name was_Lāⱱān and_ Lāⱱān _he _ran to the_man to_the_outside to the_spring.

Show passage in OET: GEN 29:16

OET-RV GEN 29:16

16 Now Lavan had two daughters: the older one was named Le’ah, and the younger one was named Rahel (Rachel).

OET-LV GEN 29:16

16 And_belonged_to_Lāⱱān two _of daughters the _name _of the_big/large/great(fs) was_Lēʼāh and_name _of the _young_one was_Rāḩēl.

Show passage in OET: GEN 25:20

OET-RV GEN 25:20

20 and Yitshak was forty years old when he married Rivkah. (She was the daughter of Betuel the Aramean from Padan -Aram, the sister of Lavan (Laban) the Aramean.)

OET-LV GEN 25:20

20 And_he/it _was Yiʦḩāq a _son _of forty year[s] when_took_he DOM Riⱱqāh the _daughter _of Bətū^ʼēl the_ʼArammiy from_Paddan- aram the _sister _of Lāⱱān the_ʼArammiy to_him/it to/for_(a)_woman.

Show passage in OET: GEN 28:5

OET-RV GEN 28:5

5 Then Yitshak sent Ya’akov away, and he went to Padan -Aram—to Lavan, the son of Betuel the Aramean and the brother of Ya’akov and Esav’s (Esau) mother Rivkah.

OET-LV GEN 28:5

5 And_ Yiʦḩāq _he _sent _off DOM Yaˊₐqoⱱ and_he/it _went to_Paddan ʼArām to Lāⱱān the _son _of Bətū^ʼēl the_ʼArammiy the _brother _of Riⱱqāh the _mother _of Yaˊₐqoⱱ and_ˊĒsāv.

Jump to OET GEN 24:24 section. · OET GEN 24:29 section.

Jump to OET GEN 24:15 section. · OET GEN 24:29 section.

Jump to OET GEN 29:16 section.

Jump to OET GEN 25:20 section.

Jump to OET GEN 28:5 section.

When Isaac came of age, Abraham sent his servant Eliezer back to Haran to find a wife for Isaac. Laban greeted Eliezer hospitably and made provision for him and his camels (Gn 24:29-33, 54 OET GEN 24:29–33 · OET GEN 24:54). Laban acted as the head of the house; he made the decision concerning Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac (vv 50-51), and it was to him and his mother that Eliezer made gifts of costly ornaments (v 53).

Show passage in OET: GEN 24:29–33; GEN 24:54

OET-RV GEN 24:29

29 Now Rivkah had a brother named Lavan (Laban), and he ran out to the man at the well.

OET-RV GEN 24:30

30 He had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he’d heard his sister Rivkah’s words saying, “This is what the man said to me,” then he went to the man, and indeed, he was there standing by the camels at the spring

OET-RV GEN 24:31

31 and he invited him, “Come, you who are blessed by Yahweh. Why are you standing out here? I’ve already prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

OET-RV GEN 24:32

32 So Avraham’s slave went to the house. Then he unloaded the camels and gave them straw and fodder, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

OET-RV GEN 24:33

33 Then food was set out for them to eat, but Avraham’s slave said, “I won’t eat until I have said what I have to say.”
¶ “Speak then,” Lavan responded.

OET-RV GEN 24:54

54 Then Avraham’s slave and the men with him ate and drank and stayed there overnight. Then in the morning they got up, and he said, “Let me leave now and return back to my master.”

OET-LV GEN 24:29

29 And_belonged_to_Riⱱqāh a _brother and_his/its_name was_Lāⱱān and_ Lāⱱān _he _ran to the_man to_the_outside to the_spring.

OET-LV GEN 24:30

30 And_he/it _was just_as _saw DOM the_ring and_DOM the_bracelets on the _hands _of his _sister _of_his and_just_as_he _heard DOM the _words/messages _of Riⱱqāh sister _of_his to_say thus he _spoke to_me the_man and_he _went to the_man and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE he_was_standing with the_camels at the_spring.

OET-LV GEN 24:31

31 And_he/it _said come Oh_you _who _are_blessed _of YHWH to/for_what are _you _standing on_outside and_I I _have _made _clear the_house and_a _place for_camels.

OET-LV GEN 24:32

32 And_ the_man _he _went to_the_house and_he _unharnessed the_camels and_he/it _gave straw and_fodder to_camels and_water to_wash feet _of_his and_the _feet _of the _men who with_him/it.

OET-LV GEN 24:33

33 And before_him to_eat and_he/it _said not I _will _eat until (if) I _have _spoken words/messages _of_my and_he/it _said speak.

OET-LV GEN 24:54

54 And_they _ate and_they _drank he and_the_men who with_him/it and_they _stayed _the _night and_they _arose in_morning and_he/it _said send_me _away to_master _of_my.

Show passage in OET: GEN 24:50–51

OET-RV GEN 24:50

50 Then Lavan (Laban) and Betuel answered, “This matter has come from Yahweh, so we’re not able to tell you bad or good.

OET-RV GEN 24:51

51 But listen, Rivkah’s right here. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as Yahweh has indicated.”

OET-LV GEN 24:50

50 And_ Lāⱱān and_Bətū^ʼēl _he _answered and_they _said from_YHWH the_matter it _has _come _out not we _are _able to _speak to_you evil or good.

OET-LV GEN 24:51

51 HERE Riⱱqāh to_your_face take_her and_go so_that _she _may _be a _wife for_the _son _of your(pl)_master(s)_of_your just_as YHWH he _has _spoken.

Show passage in OET: GEN 24:53

OET-RV GEN 24:53

53 Then he brought out silver and gold jewellery, and clothing, and gave them to Rivkah. And he gave valuable things to her brother and her mother.

OET-LV GEN 24:53

53 And_ the_servant _he _brought _out articles _of silver and_articles _of gold and_garments and_he/it _gave to_Riⱱqāh and_excellent _gifts he _gave to_brother _of_her and_to_mother _of_her.

Jump to OET GEN 24:29–33 section. · OET GEN 24:54 section.

Jump to OET GEN 24:50–51 section.

Jump to OET GEN 24:53 section.

Laban figures largely in the narrative of his nephew Jacob in his quest for a wife. After the deception of Isaac by Rebekah and Jacob, Rebekah feared that Esau would kill Jacob, so she suggested that he flee to her brother, Laban (Gn 27:43); meanwhile, she persuaded Isaac that Jacob should go to Haran to find a wife from among their own people. When Jacob arrived in the area of Haran, he met Rachel, the younger daughter of Laban, and was warmly welcomed (29:13). Laban hired Jacob to tend his flocks, and it was agreed that after seven years of work Jacob would receive Rachel as his wages. At the end of that period Laban substituted Leah, his older daughter. Jacob protested, but the two men finally decided that Jacob should serve another seven years for Rachel.

Show passage in OET: GEN 27:43

OET-RV GEN 27:43

43 So my son, listen to what I’m saying: for your own sake, pack up and flee to my brother Lavan’s (Laban) place in Haran

OET-LV GEN 27:43

43 And_now my _son _of_my listen to_voice _of_my and_arise flee to/for_yourself(m) to Lāⱱān my_brother/kindred to_Ḩārān.

Show passage in OET: GEN 29:13

OET-RV GEN 29:13

13 and when Lavan heard the news about his sister’s son Ya’akov, he ran out to meet him. Then he embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then Ya’akov told Lavan everything that had happened up until then,

OET-LV GEN 29:13

13 And_he/it _was just_ Lāⱱān _as _heard DOM the _report _of Yaˊₐqoⱱ the _son _of his _sister _of_his and_he _ran to_meet_him and_he _embraced to_him/it and_he _kissed to_him/it and_he_brought _him to house _of_his and_he _recounted to_Lāⱱān DOM all _of the_things the_these.

Jump to OET GEN 27:43 section.

Jump to OET GEN 29:13 section.

Both Jacob and Laban were schemers and had serious disputes about wages. Jacob proposed that his wages should be a certain portion of the flocks. When this was accepted, the Lord blessed Jacob and his flocks, and Laban became angry. Jacob claimed that Laban had changed his wages ten times (Gn 31:7, 41 OET GEN 31:7 · OET GEN 31:41).

Show passage in OET: GEN 31:7; GEN 31:41

OET-RV GEN 31:7

7 but your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times. However, God hasn’t allowed him to harm me.

OET-RV GEN 31:41

41 That’s how it was for me for twenty years in your house. I worked for you for fourteen years for your two daughters, then six more years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times to your advantage.

OET-LV GEN 31:7

7 And_father _of_your(pl) he _has _deceived (in)_me and_he _has _changed DOM wage[s]_of_my ten _of times and_not he_has _permitted _him god to_do _harm with_me.

OET-LV GEN 31:41

41 This to/for_me twenty year[s] in_household _of_your I_served _you four- teen year[s] for_the _two _of daughters _of_your and_six years for_flock[s]_of_your and_you _changed DOM wage[s]_of_my ten _of times.

Jump to OET GEN 31:7 section. · OET GEN 31:41 section.

Jacob fled from Haran. Laban pursued him because he was missing his household gods, whose possession made the holder heir to Laban’s estate. Rachel had taken them but adroitly concealed them from her father’s search.

Laban and Jacob parted after making a covenant of peace and erecting a pillar of stones to serve as a witness between them (Gn 31:46-50).