Laban means in the bible: Grandson of Nahor and grandson of Bethuel and the father of Leah (and Rachel), When Abraham went to Canaan, his branch of the family was still at Haran. You can read about the dealings of these two branches in Gen. 24, 27:43 to 31:55. Jacob was his servant for twenty years. The two of them had a lot of mutual deception. Each tried to beat the other, but it was friendly when they parted in Gilead’s mountains.
(in Bible Dictionary)
