King James Bible Dictionary

Laban - White.

1. The son of Bethuel, who was the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother. He lived at Haran in Mesopotamia. His sister Rebekah was Isaac's wife (Genesis 24). Jacob, one of the sons of this marriage, fled to the house of Laban, whose daughters Leah and Rachel (ch. 29) he eventually married. (See JACOB.)

2. A city in the Arabian desert in the route of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 1:1), probably identical with Libnah (Numbers 33:20).

white; shining; gentle; brittle

Son of Bethuel
Genesis 28:5

Brother of Rebekah
Genesis 22:23; Genesis 24:15; Genesis 24:29

Receives the servant of Abraham
Genesis 24:29-33

Receives Jacob, and gives him his daughters in marriage
Genesis 29:12-30

Jacob becomes his servant
Genesis 29:15-20; Genesis 29:27; Genesis 30:27-43

Outwitted by Jacob
Genesis 30:37-43; Genesis 31:1-21

Pursues Jacob, overtakes him at Mount Gilead, and covenants with him
Genesis 31:22-55

(white).

1. Son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah and father of Leah and Rachel. (B.C. about 1860-1740.) The elder branch of the family remained at Haran, Mesopotamia, when Abraham removed to the land of Canaan, and it is there that we first meet with Laban, as taking the leading part in the betrothal of his sister Rebekah to her cousin Isaac. (Genesis 24:10,29-60; 27:43; 29:5) The next time Laban appears in the sacred narrative it is as the host of his nephew Jacob at Haran. (Genesis 29:13,14) [JACOB] Jacob married Rachel and Leah, daughters of Laban, and remained with him 20 years, B.C. 1760-1740. But Laban's dishonest and overreaching practice toward his nephew shows from what source Jacob inherited his tendency to sharp dealing. Nothing is said of Laban after Jacob left him.
2. One of the landmarks named in the obscure and disputed passage (1:1) The mention of Hezeroth has perhaps led to the only conjecture regarding Laban of which the writer is aware, namely, that it is identical with LIBNAH. (Numbers 33:20)

the moon; whiteness; frankincense