Meaning of LABAN

"White".
(a) Son of Bethuel and grandson of Nahor, the brother of Abraham. He lived in Haran, in Mesopotamia (Gen. 24:10, 15; 28:5, 10; 29:4, 5); He was Rebekah's brother.

Laban allowed his sister to leave for Canaan to marry Isaac, whose gifts demonstrated his wealth (Gen. 24). Fleeing Jacob from the wrath of his brother Esau, he took refuge in the house of his uncle, who was then head of a clan, father of many sons (Gen. 30:35; 31:1) and at least two daughters (Gen. 29:16); he owned slaves (Gen. 29:24, 29), sheep and goats (Gen. 29:9; 31:38).

After twenty years of staying with Laban, whose two daughters he had married, Jacob fled with his family and his flocks. Laban, jealous of his son-in-law, overtook him in Gilead, but could do him no harm due to divine intervention.

Laban and Jacob concluded an alliance, and then separated forever (Gen. 29-31). Laban united idolatrous practices (Gen. 31:53; 24:50; 30:27; 31:30; cf. 35:4) and divination (Gen. 30:27) to the cult of Jehovah.

(b) Unidentified location on the Sinai Peninsula (Deut. 1:1). Some exegetes identify him with Libna (Deut. 33:20).