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Jacob and Laban

How Jacob and Laban are linked in Scripture, with every passage where their stories cross.

How they are linked

  • Jacob served Laban.

    Jacob worked twenty years for his mother's brother Laban, fourteen for Leah and Rachel and six for the flocks, and Laban changed his wages ten times.

    Laban his mother’s brother

    Genesis 29:10, King James Version

    I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times

    Genesis 31:41, King James Version

    Where they cross: Genesis 29:15-20

  • Jacob and Laban were rivals.

    Laban beguiled Jacob over his wives and his wages, and Jacob stole away with his household. Laban pursued him, and they parted at a heap of stones set up as a witness between them.

    wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

    Genesis 29:25, King James Version

    And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian

    Genesis 31:20, King James Version

    This heap is a witness between me and thee this day

    Genesis 31:48, King James Version

    Where they cross: Genesis 31:36-48

Notes are commentary, checked against the cited verses in a separate review. Quoted words are Scripture.

Every passage, in order

Genesis 29:10

10And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

Genesis 29:15-20

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

Genesis 29:25

25And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

Genesis 31:20

20And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

Genesis 31:36-48

36And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?

37Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.

38This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.

39That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.

40Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

41Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

42Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

43And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

44Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

45And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

46And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.

47And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.

48And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;

King James Version

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