לָבָן (la.van)
la.van
white
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective laban means white, describing a color or state of brightness. It appears twenty-four times in Scripture, with its most frequent usage found in Leviticus. In these chapters, the word is essential for diagnosing skin conditions, where priests look for specific shades of whiteness to determine ritual purity.
The term also serves as a proper name for Laban, Jacob’s father-in-law, whose name reflects this same root meaning. Beyond physical description, the color carries symbolic weight in prophetic literature. In Zechariah 6:3 and 1:8, white horses appear in visions, representing divine power and movement.
Translators consistently render laban as "white," capturing its straightforward visual sense. The word does not carry complex metaphorical layers in most contexts but remains a precise descriptor of lightness or brightness in both material and visionary settings.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word laban describes a clear, bright whiteness that appears in many everyday settings. It paints the color of manna in the wilderness, the shine on Jacob’s peeled rods, and even the healthy glow of teeth after a good meal. These images remind us that God provides for daily needs and blesses ordinary moments with visible signs of His care.
In Leviticus, priests used this same word to check skin conditions. When a spot turned fully white, it sometimes marked a state of ritual purity rather than disease. This shows how the Bible uses simple physical details to teach spiritual lessons about cleanliness and restoration. We can trust that God sees both our outward appearance and our inner condition.
Prophets later used white horses in visions to show God’s power moving through history. Whether describing food, health, or divine intervention, laban points to clarity and light. You can find comfort in knowing that the same God who provided manna and guided prophets is present in your own life today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- white22×
- to/ white2×
- the/ white [wood]1×
- and/ white of1×
- and/ white1×
- and/ the/ white [horses]1×
- [is] white1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לָבָ֔ן3×
- לָבָ֑ן3×
- לְבָנָ֣ה2×
- לְבָנִ֑ים2×
- לְ/לָבָ֑ן2×
- לָבָן֙1×
- לָבָ֣ן1×
- לָבָ֜ן1×
- לָבָ֗ן1×
- לָבָ֖ן1×
- לְבָנֹֽת\׃1×
- לְבָנֹ֑ת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 16:31
The house of Israel called its name “Manna”, and it was like coriander seed, white; and its taste was like wafers with honey.
This verse identifies the manna as white, linking the word directly to God’s daily provision for Israel in the wilderness.
-
Leviticus 13:13
then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean of the plague. It has all turned white: he is clean.
Here, the complete whiteness of a skin condition leads the priest to pronounce the person clean, showing how whiteness can signal restoration.
-
Zechariah 6:3
In the third chariot were white horses. In the fourth chariot were dappled horses, all of them powerful.
The white horses in this vision represent divine power and movement as part of God’s oversight of the earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word laban mean?
Why is laban important in Leviticus?
How is laban different from other words for white?
Every Occurrence (24 verses across 5 books)
Genesis 3 verses
That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and…
Genesis 30:37Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white…
Genesis 49:12His eyes will be red with wine, his teeth white with milk.