Jabal יָבָל
Son of Lamech; father of nomadic herdsmen.
Biography
Jabal is mentioned in Gen.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 (Gen.4.17-22).
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.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Jubal Early PatriarchSon of LamechFather of musicians who play the lyre and pipeView full profile →
- Tubal-cain Early PatriarchSon of LamechDescendant of Cain, first metalworkerView full profile →
- Naamah Early PatriarchSister of JabalDaughter of Lamech and Zillah, sister of Tubal-cain.View full profile →
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 4:20
"Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יָבָל | H2989 |
Jabal
e corresponding word in Arabic means "the herdsman who tends the camels." Skinner, Gen, 120, says that both Jabal and Jubal suggest yobhel, which in Phoenician and Hebrew "means primarily `ram,' then `ram's horn' as a musical instrument, and finally `joyous music' (in the designation of the year of Jubilee)." See also Skinner, Gen, 103, on the supposed connection in meaning with Abel.
David Francis Roberts
jab'-ok (yabboq, "luxuriant river"): A stream in Eastern Palestine first named in the history of Jacob, as crossed by the patriarch on his return from Paddan-aram, after leaving Mahanaim (<ref osisRef="Bible:Gen.32.22"