Thematic Bible: Laban
Thematic Bible
Blessing » Temporal blessings, prayer for » Laban
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "You [are] our sister; may you become countless thousands; and may your offspring take possession of the gate of his enemies."
Verse Concepts
Covetousness » Instances of » Laban » In deceiving jacob in wages
and your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God has not allowed him to harm me.
Verse Concepts
Are we not regarded [as] foreigners by him, because he has sold us and completely consumed our money?
Verse Concepts
These twenty years [I have been] in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac had not been with me, indeed now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my misery and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night."
Covetousness » Exemplified » Laban
These twenty years [I have been] in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
Verse Concepts
Covetousness » Instances of » Laban » In giving rebekah to be isaac's wife
Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban. And Laban ran out to the man toward the spring. And when he saw the ring and the bracelets on the arms of his sister and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, [who] said, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man. And behold, [he was] standing with the camels at the spring. And he said, "Come, O blessed [one] of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? Now I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." read more.
And the man came to the house and unloaded the camels. And he gave straw and fodder to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who [were] with him. {And food was placed before him} to eat. And he said, "I will not eat until {I have told my errand}." And he said, "Speak." And he said, "I [am] the servant of Abraham. Now Yahweh has blessed my master exceedingly, and he has become great. He has given to him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male slaves and female slaves, and camels and donkeys. And Sarah, the wife of my master, has borne a son to my master after her old age. And he has given to him all that he has. And my master made me swear, saying, 'Do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I am living. But you shall go to the house of my father, and to my family, and you shall take a wife for my son.' And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not {follow} me.' And he said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I have walked, shall send his angel with you and will make your journey successful. And you shall take a wife for my son from my family, and from the house of my father. Then you shall be released from my oath, when you come to my family. And if they will not give [a woman] to you, then you will be released from my oath.' Then today I came to the spring, and I said, 'O Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, {if you would please make my journey successful}, upon which I am going. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let it be [that] the young woman who comes out to draw water and to whom I say, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jar," let her say to me, "Drink; I will also draw water for your camels," she [is] the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for the son of my master.' I had not yet finished speaking to myself when, behold, Rebekah [was] coming out with her jar on her shoulder. And she went down to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' And she hastened and let down her jar {from her shoulder} and said, 'Drink, and I will give a drink to your camels also.' Then I drank and she gave a drink to the camels also. Then I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter [are] you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' And I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. And I knelt down and worshiped Yahweh, and I praised Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right way, to take the daughter of the brother of my master for his son. So now, {if you are going to deal loyally and truly} with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, so that I may turn to [the] right or to [the] left." Then Laban and Bethuel answered, and they said, "The matter has gone out from Yahweh; we are not able to speak bad or good to you. Here [is] Rebekah before you. Take [her] and go; let her be a wife for the son of your master as Yahweh has spoken."
And the man came to the house and unloaded the camels. And he gave straw and fodder to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who [were] with him. {And food was placed before him} to eat. And he said, "I will not eat until {I have told my errand}." And he said, "Speak." And he said, "I [am] the servant of Abraham. Now Yahweh has blessed my master exceedingly, and he has become great. He has given to him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male slaves and female slaves, and camels and donkeys. And Sarah, the wife of my master, has borne a son to my master after her old age. And he has given to him all that he has. And my master made me swear, saying, 'Do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I am living. But you shall go to the house of my father, and to my family, and you shall take a wife for my son.' And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not {follow} me.' And he said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I have walked, shall send his angel with you and will make your journey successful. And you shall take a wife for my son from my family, and from the house of my father. Then you shall be released from my oath, when you come to my family. And if they will not give [a woman] to you, then you will be released from my oath.' Then today I came to the spring, and I said, 'O Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, {if you would please make my journey successful}, upon which I am going. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let it be [that] the young woman who comes out to draw water and to whom I say, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jar," let her say to me, "Drink; I will also draw water for your camels," she [is] the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for the son of my master.' I had not yet finished speaking to myself when, behold, Rebekah [was] coming out with her jar on her shoulder. And she went down to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' And she hastened and let down her jar {from her shoulder} and said, 'Drink, and I will give a drink to your camels also.' Then I drank and she gave a drink to the camels also. Then I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter [are] you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' And I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. And I knelt down and worshiped Yahweh, and I praised Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right way, to take the daughter of the brother of my master for his son. So now, {if you are going to deal loyally and truly} with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, so that I may turn to [the] right or to [the] left." Then Laban and Bethuel answered, and they said, "The matter has gone out from Yahweh; we are not able to speak bad or good to you. Here [is] Rebekah before you. Take [her] and go; let her be a wife for the son of your master as Yahweh has spoken."
Covetousness » Instances of » Laban » Deceiving » jacob
Then Laban said to Jacob, "[Just] because you [are] my brother should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wage [should be]." Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel. Now the eyes of Leah [were] dull, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. read more.
And Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." Then Laban said, "Better [that] I give her to you than I give her to another man. Stay with me." And Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they were as a few days in his eyes because he loved her. And Jacob said to Laban, "Give [me] my wife, that I may go in to her, for {my time} is completed." So Laban gathered all the men of the place and prepared a feast. And it happened [that] in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her. And Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to her, to Leah his daughter [as] a female servant. And it happened [that] in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah! And he said to Laban, "What [is] this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Now why did you deceive me?" Then Laban said, "{It is not the custom} in our country to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, then I will also give you the other, {on the condition that you will work for me} another seven years." And Jacob did so. So he completed the week of this [one], then he gave Rachel his daughter to him as a wife. And Laban gave Bilhah his female servant to Rachel his daughter as a female servant. Then he also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet another seven years.
And Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." Then Laban said, "Better [that] I give her to you than I give her to another man. Stay with me." And Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they were as a few days in his eyes because he loved her. And Jacob said to Laban, "Give [me] my wife, that I may go in to her, for {my time} is completed." So Laban gathered all the men of the place and prepared a feast. And it happened [that] in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her. And Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to her, to Leah his daughter [as] a female servant. And it happened [that] in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah! And he said to Laban, "What [is] this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Now why did you deceive me?" Then Laban said, "{It is not the custom} in our country to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, then I will also give you the other, {on the condition that you will work for me} another seven years." And Jacob did so. So he completed the week of this [one], then he gave Rachel his daughter to him as a wife. And Laban gave Bilhah his female servant to Rachel his daughter as a female servant. Then he also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet another seven years.
Deceit » Exemplified » Laban
and your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God has not allowed him to harm me.
Verse Concepts
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Laban
And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, "{Take care} that you not speak with Jacob, whether good or evil."
Verse Concepts
Family » Examples of fathers' love » Laban
And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Verse Concepts
Fathers » Examples of fathers' love » Laban
And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Verse Concepts
Home » Examples of fathers' love » Laban
And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Verse Concepts
Ingratitude » Exemplified » Laban
Now you yourselves know that I have served your father with all my strength, and your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God has not allowed him to harm me.
Laban » Jacob becomes his servant
Then Laban said to Jacob, "[Just] because you [are] my brother should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wage [should be]." Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel. Now the eyes of Leah [were] dull, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. read more.
And Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." Then Laban said, "Better [that] I give her to you than I give her to another man. Stay with me." And Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they were as a few days in his eyes because he loved her.
And Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." Then Laban said, "Better [that] I give her to you than I give her to another man. Stay with me." And Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they were as a few days in his eyes because he loved her.
Complete the week of this one, then I will also give you the other, {on the condition that you will work for me} another seven years."
Verse Concepts
But Laban said to him, "Please, if I have found favor in your eyes, I have learned by divination that Yahweh has blessed me because of you." And he said, "Name your wage to me and I will give [it]." Then he said to him, "You yourself know how I have served you and how your livestock have been with me. read more.
For you had little before me, and it has increased abundantly. And Yahweh has blessed you {wherever I turned}. So then, when shall I provide for my own family also?" And he said, "What shall I give you?" And Jacob said, "Do not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flocks and keep [them]. Let me pass through all your flocks today, removing all the speckled and spotted sheep from them, along with every dark-colored sheep among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. That shall be my wages. And my righteousness will answer for me {later} when you come concerning my wages before you. Every [one] that [is] not speckled or spotted among the goats, or dark-colored among the sheep shall be stolen [if it is] with me." Then Laban said, "Look! Very well. It shall be according to your word." But that day he removed the streaked and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, all that [had] white on it, and every dark-colored ram, and {put them in the charge of his sons}. And he put a journey of three days between him and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the remainder of Laban's flock. Then Jacob took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled white strips on them, exposing the white which [was] on the branches. And he set the branches that he had peeled in front of the flocks, in the troughs [and] in the water containers. And they were in heat when they came to drink. And the flocks mated by the branches, so the flocks bore streaked, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob separated the lambs and turned the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the dark-colored in Laban's flocks. And he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with the flocks of Laban. And whenever any of the stronger of the flocks were in heat, Jacob put the branches {in full view} of the flock in the troughs that they might mate among the branches. But with the more feeble of the flock he would not put [them there]. So the feebler were Laban's and the stronger [were] Jacob's. And the man became {exceedingly} rich and had large flocks, female slaves, male slaves, camels, and donkeys.
For you had little before me, and it has increased abundantly. And Yahweh has blessed you {wherever I turned}. So then, when shall I provide for my own family also?" And he said, "What shall I give you?" And Jacob said, "Do not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flocks and keep [them]. Let me pass through all your flocks today, removing all the speckled and spotted sheep from them, along with every dark-colored sheep among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. That shall be my wages. And my righteousness will answer for me {later} when you come concerning my wages before you. Every [one] that [is] not speckled or spotted among the goats, or dark-colored among the sheep shall be stolen [if it is] with me." Then Laban said, "Look! Very well. It shall be according to your word." But that day he removed the streaked and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, all that [had] white on it, and every dark-colored ram, and {put them in the charge of his sons}. And he put a journey of three days between him and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the remainder of Laban's flock. Then Jacob took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled white strips on them, exposing the white which [was] on the branches. And he set the branches that he had peeled in front of the flocks, in the troughs [and] in the water containers. And they were in heat when they came to drink. And the flocks mated by the branches, so the flocks bore streaked, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob separated the lambs and turned the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the dark-colored in Laban's flocks. And he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with the flocks of Laban. And whenever any of the stronger of the flocks were in heat, Jacob put the branches {in full view} of the flock in the troughs that they might mate among the branches. But with the more feeble of the flock he would not put [them there]. So the feebler were Laban's and the stronger [were] Jacob's. And the man became {exceedingly} rich and had large flocks, female slaves, male slaves, camels, and donkeys.
Laban » Outwitted by jacob
Then Jacob took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled white strips on them, exposing the white which [was] on the branches. And he set the branches that he had peeled in front of the flocks, in the troughs [and] in the water containers. And they were in heat when they came to drink. And the flocks mated by the branches, so the flocks bore streaked, speckled, and spotted. read more.
And Jacob separated the lambs and turned the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the dark-colored in Laban's flocks. And he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with the flocks of Laban. And whenever any of the stronger of the flocks were in heat, Jacob put the branches {in full view} of the flock in the troughs that they might mate among the branches. But with the more feeble of the flock he would not put [them there]. So the feebler were Laban's and the stronger [were] Jacob's. And the man became {exceedingly} rich and had large flocks, female slaves, male slaves, camels, and donkeys.
And Jacob separated the lambs and turned the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the dark-colored in Laban's flocks. And he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with the flocks of Laban. And whenever any of the stronger of the flocks were in heat, Jacob put the branches {in full view} of the flock in the troughs that they might mate among the branches. But with the more feeble of the flock he would not put [them there]. So the feebler were Laban's and the stronger [were] Jacob's. And the man became {exceedingly} rich and had large flocks, female slaves, male slaves, camels, and donkeys.
Now he heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying, "Jacob has taken all that our father has," and "From that which [was] our father's he has gained all this wealth." Then Jacob saw the face of Laban and, behold, {it was not like it had been in the past}. And Yahweh said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your ancestors and to your family, and I will be with you." read more.
So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flocks, and he said to them, "Look, I see the face of your father, that {it is not like it has been toward me in the past}. But the God of my father is with me. Now you yourselves know that I have served your father with all my strength, and your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God has not allowed him to harm me. If thus he said, 'Speckled shall be your wage,' then all the flock bore speckled. And [if] he said, 'Streaked shall be your wage,' then all the flock bore streaked. God has taken away your father's livestock and given [them] to me. Now it happened [that] at the time of the mating of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams mounting the flock [were] streaked, speckled, and dappled. Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I [am].' And he said, 'Lift up your eyes and see--all the rams mounting the flock [are] streaked, speckled, and dappled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I [am] the God of Bethel where you anointed a stone pillar, where you made a vow to me. Now get up, go out from this land and return to the land of your birth.'" Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, "[Is there] yet a portion for us, and an inheritance in the house of our father? Are we not regarded [as] foreigners by him, because he has sold us and completely consumed our money? For all the wealth that God has taken away from our father, it belongs to us and to our sons. So now, all that God has said to you, do." Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on the camels. And he drove all his livestock and his possessions that he had acquired, the livestock of his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-Aram, in order to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan. Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the idols that belonged to her father. And Jacob {tricked} Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he [intended to] flee. Then he fled with all that he had, and arose and crossed the Euphrates and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flocks, and he said to them, "Look, I see the face of your father, that {it is not like it has been toward me in the past}. But the God of my father is with me. Now you yourselves know that I have served your father with all my strength, and your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God has not allowed him to harm me. If thus he said, 'Speckled shall be your wage,' then all the flock bore speckled. And [if] he said, 'Streaked shall be your wage,' then all the flock bore streaked. God has taken away your father's livestock and given [them] to me. Now it happened [that] at the time of the mating of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams mounting the flock [were] streaked, speckled, and dappled. Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I [am].' And he said, 'Lift up your eyes and see--all the rams mounting the flock [are] streaked, speckled, and dappled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I [am] the God of Bethel where you anointed a stone pillar, where you made a vow to me. Now get up, go out from this land and return to the land of your birth.'" Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, "[Is there] yet a portion for us, and an inheritance in the house of our father? Are we not regarded [as] foreigners by him, because he has sold us and completely consumed our money? For all the wealth that God has taken away from our father, it belongs to us and to our sons. So now, all that God has said to you, do." Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on the camels. And he drove all his livestock and his possessions that he had acquired, the livestock of his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-Aram, in order to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan. Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the idols that belonged to her father. And Jacob {tricked} Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he [intended to] flee. Then he fled with all that he had, and arose and crossed the Euphrates and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
Laban » Brother of rebekah
And it happened [that] before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah--who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, the brother of Abraham--came out, and her jar [was] on her shoulder.
Verse Concepts
(Now, Bethuel fathered Rebekah). These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, the brother of Abraham.
Verse Concepts
Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban. And Laban ran out to the man toward the spring.
Verse Concepts
Laban » Pursues jacob, overtakes him at mount gilead, and covenants with him
And on the third day it was told to Laban that Jacob had fled. Then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued after him, a seven-day journey, and he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, "{Take care} that you not speak with Jacob, whether good or evil." read more.
And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban and his kinsmen pitched [their tents] in the hill country of Gilead. Then Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done that you {tricked me} and have carried off my daughters like captives of the sword? Why did you hide [your intention] to flee and {trick me}, and did not tell me so that I would have sent you away with joy and song and tambourine and lyre? And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this]. {It is in my power} to do harm to you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night saying, '{Take care} from speaking with Jacob, whether good or evil.' Now, you have surely gone because you desperately longed for the house of your father, [but] why did you steal my gods?" Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I [was] afraid, for I thought, 'Lest you take your daughters from me by force.' [But] with whomever you find your gods, he shall not live. In the presence of your kinsmen [now] identify what [is] with me [that is] yours and take it." Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. Then Laban went into Jacob's tent and Leah's tent and the tent of the two female servants and did not find [his gods]. And he came out of Leah's tent and went into Rachel's tent. Now Rachel had taken the idols and put them in the saddle bag of the camel and sat on them. And Jacob searched the whole tent thoroughly but did not find them. And she said to her father, "Let there not be anger in the eyes of my lord, for I am not able to rise before you, for the way of women [is] with me. And he searched carefully and did not find the idols. Then Jacob became angry and quarreled with Laban. Jacob answered and said to Laban, "What [is] my offense? What [is] my sin that you pursued after me? For you have searched all my possessions and what did you find among all the possessions of my household? Set it before my kinsmen and your kinsmen that they may decide between the two of us! These twenty years I [was] with you; your ewes and your female goats did not miscarry, and the rams of your flocks I did not eat. I brought no mangled carcass to you--I bore its loss. From my hand you sought it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. [There] I was, during the day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. These twenty years [I have been] in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac had not been with me, indeed now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my misery and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night." Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, "The daughters [are] my daughters and the grandsons [are] my grandsons, and the flocks [are] my flocks, and all that you see, it [is] mine. Now, what can I do for these my daughters today, or for their children whom they have borne? So now, come, let us {make} a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between me and you." And Jacob took a stone and set it up [as] a stone pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a pile of stones, and they ate there by the pile of stones. And Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. Then Laban said, "This pile of stones [is] a witness between me and you today." Therefore its name is called Galeed, and Mizpah, because he said, "Yahweh watch between me and you when {we are out of sight of each other}. If you mistreat my daughters, and if you take wives besides my daughters, [when] there is no man with us, see--God [is] a witness between me and you." And Laban said to Jacob, "See, this pile of stones, and see the pillar that I have set up between me and you. This pile of stones [is] a witness, and the pillar [is] a witness, that I will not pass beyond this pile of stones to you, and that you will not pass beyond this pile of stones and this pillar to me intending harm. May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father judge between us." Then Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. And Jacob sacrificed a sacrifice on the hill, and he called his kinsmen to eat the meal. And they ate the meal and spent the night on the hill. And Laban arose early in the morning and kissed his grandsons and his daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his homeland.
And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban and his kinsmen pitched [their tents] in the hill country of Gilead. Then Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done that you {tricked me} and have carried off my daughters like captives of the sword? Why did you hide [your intention] to flee and {trick me}, and did not tell me so that I would have sent you away with joy and song and tambourine and lyre? And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this]. {It is in my power} to do harm to you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night saying, '{Take care} from speaking with Jacob, whether good or evil.' Now, you have surely gone because you desperately longed for the house of your father, [but] why did you steal my gods?" Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I [was] afraid, for I thought, 'Lest you take your daughters from me by force.' [But] with whomever you find your gods, he shall not live. In the presence of your kinsmen [now] identify what [is] with me [that is] yours and take it." Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. Then Laban went into Jacob's tent and Leah's tent and the tent of the two female servants and did not find [his gods]. And he came out of Leah's tent and went into Rachel's tent. Now Rachel had taken the idols and put them in the saddle bag of the camel and sat on them. And Jacob searched the whole tent thoroughly but did not find them. And she said to her father, "Let there not be anger in the eyes of my lord, for I am not able to rise before you, for the way of women [is] with me. And he searched carefully and did not find the idols. Then Jacob became angry and quarreled with Laban. Jacob answered and said to Laban, "What [is] my offense? What [is] my sin that you pursued after me? For you have searched all my possessions and what did you find among all the possessions of my household? Set it before my kinsmen and your kinsmen that they may decide between the two of us! These twenty years I [was] with you; your ewes and your female goats did not miscarry, and the rams of your flocks I did not eat. I brought no mangled carcass to you--I bore its loss. From my hand you sought it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. [There] I was, during the day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. These twenty years [I have been] in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac had not been with me, indeed now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my misery and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night." Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, "The daughters [are] my daughters and the grandsons [are] my grandsons, and the flocks [are] my flocks, and all that you see, it [is] mine. Now, what can I do for these my daughters today, or for their children whom they have borne? So now, come, let us {make} a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between me and you." And Jacob took a stone and set it up [as] a stone pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a pile of stones, and they ate there by the pile of stones. And Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. Then Laban said, "This pile of stones [is] a witness between me and you today." Therefore its name is called Galeed, and Mizpah, because he said, "Yahweh watch between me and you when {we are out of sight of each other}. If you mistreat my daughters, and if you take wives besides my daughters, [when] there is no man with us, see--God [is] a witness between me and you." And Laban said to Jacob, "See, this pile of stones, and see the pillar that I have set up between me and you. This pile of stones [is] a witness, and the pillar [is] a witness, that I will not pass beyond this pile of stones to you, and that you will not pass beyond this pile of stones and this pillar to me intending harm. May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father judge between us." Then Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. And Jacob sacrificed a sacrifice on the hill, and he called his kinsmen to eat the meal. And they ate the meal and spent the night on the hill. And Laban arose early in the morning and kissed his grandsons and his daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his homeland.
Laban » Receives jacob, and gives him his daughters in marriage
And Jacob told Rachel that he [was] the relative of her father, and that he [was] the son of Rebekah. And she ran and told her father. And it happened [that] when Laban heard the message about Jacob, the son of his sister, he ran to meet him. And he embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, "Surely you [are] my flesh and my bone!" And he stayed with him a month. read more.
Then Laban said to Jacob, "[Just] because you [are] my brother should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wage [should be]." Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel. Now the eyes of Leah [were] dull, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. And Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." Then Laban said, "Better [that] I give her to you than I give her to another man. Stay with me." And Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they were as a few days in his eyes because he loved her. And Jacob said to Laban, "Give [me] my wife, that I may go in to her, for {my time} is completed." So Laban gathered all the men of the place and prepared a feast. And it happened [that] in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her. And Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to her, to Leah his daughter [as] a female servant. And it happened [that] in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah! And he said to Laban, "What [is] this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Now why did you deceive me?" Then Laban said, "{It is not the custom} in our country to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, then I will also give you the other, {on the condition that you will work for me} another seven years." And Jacob did so. So he completed the week of this [one], then he gave Rachel his daughter to him as a wife. And Laban gave Bilhah his female servant to Rachel his daughter as a female servant. Then he also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet another seven years.
Then Laban said to Jacob, "[Just] because you [are] my brother should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wage [should be]." Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel. Now the eyes of Leah [were] dull, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. And Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." Then Laban said, "Better [that] I give her to you than I give her to another man. Stay with me." And Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they were as a few days in his eyes because he loved her. And Jacob said to Laban, "Give [me] my wife, that I may go in to her, for {my time} is completed." So Laban gathered all the men of the place and prepared a feast. And it happened [that] in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her. And Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to her, to Leah his daughter [as] a female servant. And it happened [that] in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah! And he said to Laban, "What [is] this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Now why did you deceive me?" Then Laban said, "{It is not the custom} in our country to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, then I will also give you the other, {on the condition that you will work for me} another seven years." And Jacob did so. So he completed the week of this [one], then he gave Rachel his daughter to him as a wife. And Laban gave Bilhah his female servant to Rachel his daughter as a female servant. Then he also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet another seven years.
Laban » Receives the servant of abraham
Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban. And Laban ran out to the man toward the spring. And when he saw the ring and the bracelets on the arms of his sister and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, [who] said, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man. And behold, [he was] standing with the camels at the spring. And he said, "Come, O blessed [one] of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? Now I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." read more.
And the man came to the house and unloaded the camels. And he gave straw and fodder to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who [were] with him. {And food was placed before him} to eat. And he said, "I will not eat until {I have told my errand}." And he said, "Speak."
And the man came to the house and unloaded the camels. And he gave straw and fodder to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who [were] with him. {And food was placed before him} to eat. And he said, "I will not eat until {I have told my errand}." And he said, "Speak."
Laban » Son of bethuel
Then Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
Verse Concepts
Love » Examples of fathers' love » Laban
And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Verse Concepts
Love » Paternal » Laban
And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Verse Concepts
Love » Fathers » Laban
And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Verse Concepts
Parents » Examples of fathers' love » Laban
And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Verse Concepts
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » Laban
Then Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done that you {tricked me} and have carried off my daughters like captives of the sword? Why did you hide [your intention] to flee and {trick me}, and did not tell me so that I would have sent you away with joy and song and tambourine and lyre? And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Paternal love » Examples of fathers' love » Laban
And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].
Verse Concepts
Riches » Examples of wicked men possessing » Laban
For you had little before me, and it has increased abundantly. And Yahweh has blessed you {wherever I turned}. So then, when shall I provide for my own family also?"
Verse Concepts
Rising » Instances of » Laban
And Laban arose early in the morning and kissed his grandsons and his daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his homeland.
Verse Concepts