Son of Lamech; father of nomadic herdsmen.
Jabal
Named in 1 verse of Genesis, first in Genesis 4:20.
יָבָלJabal
The name means “which glides away.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
- Father
- Lamech
- Mother
- Adah
- Brothers and sisters
- Jubal, Tubal-cain, Naamah
- People
- Early Patriarch
About Jabal Written by AI
Jabal is mentioned in Genesis 4:20 as the son of Lamech and his wife Adah. He is described as the ancestor or father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock, indicating that he was the first nomadic herdsman. This brief description of Jabal appears in the genealogy of Cain, which traces the descendants of Adam and Eve's firstborn son. The genealogy highlights the development of various skills and occupations among Cain's descendants, including agriculture, music, and metalworking (Genesis 4:17 to 22). As the father of nomadic herdsmen, Jabal represents the beginning of a pastoral lifestyle, characterized by living in tents and moving with one's livestock to find suitable grazing areas. This way of life would have been distinct from the settled agricultural communities that were also developing at this time. The mention of Jabal in this genealogy serves to demonstrate the diversity of human culture and the development of different ways of life in the early stages of human history. It also highlights the importance of livestock and the nomadic lifestyle in the ancient Near Eastern context.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
A stream, a descendant of Cain, and brother of Jubal; “the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle” (Gen. 4:20). This description indicates that he led a wandering life.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Genesis 4:20
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.