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Laban

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Brother of Rebekah and father of Leah and Rachel, who deceived Jacob

Detailed Definition
Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah before Rachel and changed his wages ten times, yet God blessed Jacob despite him (Genesis 29–31). In poetry, Laban embodies familial deceit, the irony of tricksters being tricked, and how divine providence works through flawed human relationships to fulfill covenant.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Genesis 29–30, Laban deceives Jacob by substituting Leah for Rachel—a pivotal moment dramatized in John Milton’s paraphrases of biblical narrative; Poet Rainer Maria Rilke alludes to Laban’s trickery in “The Book of Hours” as a metaphor for life’s hidden bargains; In dramatic monologues, Laban defends his actions as cultural custom, complicating moral judgment; Contemporary poetry uses Laban to explore themes of labor, time, and delayed fulfillment (“seven years for Rachel”); In allegorical verse, Laban represents worldly cunning that tests spiritual resolve; Some educational poems for students contrast Laban’s deceit with Jacob’s eventual transformation.
Additional Notes
Laban, Rebekah and Rachel’s brother in Genesis, is a complex figure—both hospitable and deceitful—best known for tricking Jacob into marrying Leah before Rachel; his name means “white” or “pale,” and his role in the Jacob cycle offers rich ground for poetic exploration of familial tension, negotiation, and the interplay between fate and cunning.
Also Known As
Laban the Aramean Laban brother of Rebekah
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