A rich herdsman of Mesopotamia, son of Bethuel, and grandson of Mahor, Abraham's brother, Genesis 24:28-31 . His character is shown in the gladness with which he gave his sister Rebekah in marriage to the only son of his rich uncle, Abraham, Genesis 24:30,50; and in his deceitful and exacting treatment of Jacob his nephew and son-inlaw, against which Jacob defended himself by cunning as well as fidelity. When the prosperity of the one family and the jealousy of the other rendered peace impossible, Jacob, at the command of God, secretly departed, to go to Canaan. Laban pursued him; but being warned by God to do him no harm, returned home after making a treaty of peace. He seems to have known and worshipped God, Genesis 24:50 30:27 31:53; but the "gods" or teraphim which Rachel stole from her father, Genesis 31:30,34 , show that he was not without the taint of idolatry.