Tubal-cain | |
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.JPG) Tubal-cain in his forge. Tapestry,Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge | |
| Born | Tubal-cain |
| Other names | Tubal-Cain, Tubalcain, Tubal (simplified name) |
| Occupation | Smith |
| Known for | Forefather of smiths |
| Title | "An instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron" |
| Parent(s) | Lamech andZillah |
| Relatives | Naamah (sister) Jabal (half-brother) Jubal (half-brother) Adah (step-mother) Methushael (grandfather) Mehujael (great-grandfather) Irad (great-great-grandfather) Enoch (great-great-great-grandfather) Cain (great-great-great-great-grandfather) Adam and Eve (great-great-great-great-great-grandparents) Abel (great-great-great-great-granduncle) Seth (great-great-great-great-granduncle) Enoch (fifth cousin) |
Tubal-cain orTubalcain (Hebrew:תּוּבַל קַיִן –Tūḇal Qayīn) is a person mentioned in the Bible, inGenesis4:22, named therein as the firstblacksmith. He is stated as the "forger of all instruments of bronze and iron". A descendant ofCain, he was the son ofLamech andZillah. Tubal-cain was the brother ofNaamah and half-brother ofJabal andJubal.
According toRashi, Tubal-cain's name literally means "Cain's-Spices", with the Hebrew word Tū́ḇal (תובל) deriving from the word Tū́ḇlin (תבלין) meaning spices. Rashi states that he was named this, because he "seasoned and improved the work of Cain". In other words, because he was a blacksmith, who helped to make weapons which could be used to kill more efficiently, he invokes his ancestor Cain's sin of murder. Furthermore according toTanhuma bar Abba, one day, Tubal-cain and his father, Lamech, were hunting together with Tubal-cain serving as an aid for his blind father. In the distance is Cain, whom Lamech believes to be an animal. He checks with Tubal-cain to see if it is an animal, but Tubal-cain deceives his father, and lets him shoot and kill his forefather Cain, possibly because of Tubal-cain's blood lust. When Lamech realizes what he has done, he throws his hands up in a fit of mourning, accidentally killing his son Tubal-cain. HoweverGenesis Rabbah disagrees with this narrative.[1]
InAntiquities of the Jews,Josephus says that "Tubal exceeded all men in strength, and was very expert and famous in martial performances, ... and first of all invented the art of working brass."[2]
In theKing James Version, his name is rendered asTubalcain. In theNew International Version and theEnglish Standard Version, it isTubal-cain; theLatin Vulgate renders him asThubalcain. It is not clear why he has adouble-barreled first name.Gordon Wenham suggests that the nameCain meanssmith (which would anticipate the remarks about his metalworking skill), or that he is calledTubal Cain in order to distinguish him from the otherTubal, the son ofJapheth.[3]Richard Coggins suggests it "may be a variant of the same tradition which lists Tubal in the table of nations" atGen 10, as a land well known for metalwork.[4] In theBook of Jasher (Pseudo-Jasher) (1751), the name of Tubal-Cain is explained by Zillah, his mother: "After I had withered away have I obtained him from the Almighty God" (2:24).[5] This verse has led some to speculate that the name "Tubal-Cain’" may reflect a fusion of this phrase with the name Tubal, but no modern scholarly consensus supports that etymology.[6][7]
Genesis 4:22 says that Tubal-cain was the "forger of all instruments of bronze and iron" (ESV) or an "instructor of every artificer in brass and iron" (KJV). Although this may mean he was ametalsmith, a comparison with verses 20 and 21 suggests that he may have been the very firstartificer in brass and iron. T. C. Mitchell suggests that he "discovered the possibilities ofcold forging nativecopper andmeteoric iron."[8] Tubal-cain has even been described as the first chemist.[9] Walter Elwell suggests that his invention of superior weapons may have been the motivation forLamech's interest in avenging blood.[10] Alternatively, E. E. Kellett suggests that Tubal-cain may have been aminer.[11]
A fictionalized version of Tubal-cain serves as the primary antagonist in the 2014 filmNoah, also depicted as a master metalworker, and a nemesis ofNoah. The character's younger version is played byFinn Wittrock and the older version is played byRay Winstone.
Tuval village, a Northern Israelikibbutz, is named after Tubal-cain.
After I had withered away have I obtained him from the Almighty God.
And she conceived and bare a son and she called his name Tubal-Cain, saying, 'After I had withered away have I obtained him from the Almighty God.'
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