Who was Laban in the Bible?

What does the Bible say about Laban?

Laban was the son of Bethuel and the brother of Rebekah, Isaac's wife (Gen.24.29). He lived in Paddan Aram, where he welcomed Abraham's servant who sought a wife for Isaac (Gen.24.29-51). Years later, Laban hosted his nephew Israel (or 'Jacob'), who fled from his brother Esau (Gen.27.43; 28.2,5). Laban arranged for Jacob to marry his daughters, Leah and Rachel, in exchange for fourteen years of labor (Gen.29). Laban also gave his maidservants, Zilpah and Bilhah, to Jacob as concubines (Gen.30.9,22). Jacob's wives bore him eleven sons and a daughter while living with Laban (Gen.29.31-30.24; 46.18,25). Laban and Jacob had a tense relationship due to Laban's deception and Jacob's prosperity (Gen.30-31). After Jacob fled with his family, Laban pursued them but ultimately made a covenant with Jacob before departing (Gen.31). Laban is last mentioned when Jacob sent messengers to Esau, stating that he had stayed with Laban (Gen.32.4).

Where does Laban appear in the Bible?

Laban is referenced in 44 verses. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• Genesis 24:29
• Genesis 24:50
• Genesis 27:43
• Genesis 28:2
• Genesis 28:5
• Genesis 29:5
• Genesis 29:10
• 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
• Genesis 30:34
• Genesis 30:36
• Genesis 30:40
• Genesis 30:42

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Laban.