Bible Verses About Laban

Rivkah had a brother named Lavan. When he saw the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister's wrists besides, and when he heard his sister Rivkah's report of what the man had said to her, he ran out to the spring and found the man standing there by the camels.

And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

"Come on in," he said, "you whom ADONAI has blessed! Why are you standing outside when I have made room in the house and prepared a place for the camels?"

So the man went inside, and while the camels were being unloaded and provided straw and fodder, water was brought for him to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.

But when a meal was set before him, he said, "I won't eat until I say what I have to say." Lavan said, "Speak."

Ya'akov told Rachel that he was her father's relative, and that he was Rivkah's son; and she ran and told her father.

When Lavan heard the news of Ya'akov his sister's son, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Ya'akov told Lavan all that had happened.

Lavan said to him, "You are indeed my own flesh and blood." After Ya'akov had stayed with him for a whole month,

Lavan said to him, "Why should you work for me for nothing, just because you are my relative? Tell me how much I should pay you."

Now Lavan had two daughters; the name of the older was Le'ah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Le'ah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was good-looking, with beautiful features.

Ya'akov had fallen in love with Rachel and said, "I will work for you seven years in exchange for Rachel your younger daughter."

Lavan answered, "Better that I give her to you than to someone else; stay with me."

So Ya'akov worked seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him, because he was so much in love with her.

Ya'akov said to Lavan, "Give me my wife, since my time is finished, so that I can start living with her."

Lavan gathered all the men of the place and gave a banquet.

In the evening he took Le'ah his daughter and brought her to Ya'akov, and he went in and slept with her.

Lavan also gave his slave-girl Zilpah to his daughter Le'ah as her slave-girl.

In the morning Ya'akov saw that he was with Le'ah, and he said to Lavan, "What kind of thing is this that you've done to me? Didn't I work for you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?"

Lavan answered, "In our place that isn't how it's done, to give the younger daughter before the firstborn.

Finish the marriage week of this one, and we'll give you the other one also in exchange for the work you will do for me during yet another seven years."

Ya'akov agreed to this, so he finished her week, and Lavan gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

Lavan also gave to his daughter Rachel his slave-girl Bilhah as her slave-girl.

So not only did Ya'akov go in and sleep with Rachel, but he also loved Rachel more than Le'ah. Then he served Lavan another seven years.

Lavan answered him, "If you regard me favorably, then please listen: I have observed the signs that ADONAI has blessed me on account of you.