Topical Encyclopedia
Name Meaning: The name "Abel" is derived from the Hebrew word "Hevel," which means "breath," "vapor," or "transience," reflecting the brevity of his life.
Biblical References: Abel is primarily mentioned in the Book of Genesis, specifically in
Genesis 4:1-10. He is also referenced in other parts of the Bible, including
Matthew 23:35,
Luke 11:51,
Hebrews 11:4, and
Hebrews 12:24.
Family Background: Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve, the first human beings created by God. His older brother was Cain, and they were born after the expulsion of their parents from the Garden of Eden.
Occupation: Abel was a shepherd, tending to flocks, while his brother Cain was a farmer, working the soil.
The Offering: Abel is best known for the offering he made to God.
Genesis 4:4 states, "And Abel brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering." Abel's offering was accepted by God, while Cain's offering was not, leading to jealousy and anger in Cain.
Murder by Cain: The rejection of Cain's offering led to a tragic outcome.
Genesis 4:8 recounts, "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go out to the field.' And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him." This act of fratricide is the first recorded murder in the Bible.
God's Response: After Abel's murder, God confronted Cain, asking, "Where is your brother Abel?" to which Cain famously replied, "I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?" (
Genesis 4:9). God then declared that Abel's blood cried out from the ground, and He pronounced a curse on Cain for his actions.
Legacy and Significance: Abel is often seen as a symbol of righteousness and faith.
Hebrews 11:4 states, "By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." Abel's faith and righteousness are contrasted with Cain's disobedience and sin.
Typology and Symbolism: Abel's life and death have been interpreted as a typology of Christ's own sacrifice. Abel's blood is mentioned in
Hebrews 12:24, which speaks of "Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Abel's blood cried out for justice, while Christ's blood speaks of redemption and forgiveness.
Cultural and Theological Impact: Abel's account has been a subject of theological reflection and artistic representation throughout history. His narrative raises questions about human nature, sin, and the nature of true worship. Abel's faith and the injustice he suffered have made him a figure of enduring interest in Judeo-Christian thought.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Abela city; mourning
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Abel(i.e.,breath, vapor, transitoriness , probably so called from the shortness of his life), the second son of Adam, murdered by his brother Cain, (Genesis 4:1-16) he was a keeper or feeder of sheep. Our Lord spoke of Abel as the first martyr, (Matthew 23:35) so did the early Church subsequently. The traditional site of his murder and his grave are pointed out near Damascus.
ATS Bible Dictionary
Abel1. The second son of Adam and Eve. He became a shepherd, and offered to God a sacrifice from his flocks, at the same time that Cain his brother offered the fruits of the earth. God had respect to Abel's sacrifice, and not to Cain's; hence Cain in anger killed Abel,Genesis 4:1-26. It was "by faith" that Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain; that is, his heart was right towards God, and he worshipped Him in trustful obedience to the divine directions. His offering, made by the shedding of blood, was that of a penitent sinner confiding in the atonement ordained of God; and it was accepted, "God testifying of his gifts," probably by fire from heaven; "by which he obtained witness that he was righteous," that is, justified,Hebrews 11:4. "The blood of Abel" called from the ground for vengeance,Genesis 4:10; but the blood of Christ claims forgiveness and salvation for his people,Hebrews 12:241John 1:7
2. Abel is also a prefix in the names of several towns. In such cases it signifies a grassy place or meadow.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Hebrews Hebhel), a breath, or vanity, the second son of Adam and Eve. He was put to death by his brother Cain (
Genesis 4:1-16). Guided by the instruction of their father, the two brothers were trained in the duty of worshipping God. "And in process of time" (marg. "at the end of days", i.e., on the Sabbath) each of them offered up to God of the first-fruits of his labours. Cain, as a husbandman, offered the fruits of the field; Abel, as a shepherd, of the firstlings of his flock. "The Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering; but unto Cain and his offering he had not respect" (
Genesis 4:3-5). On this account Cain was angry with his brother, and formed the design of putting him to death; a design which he at length found an opportunity of carrying into effect (
Genesis 4:8, 9. Comp. 1
John 3:12). There are several references to Abel in the New Testament. Our Saviour speaks of him as "righteous" (
Matthew 23:35). "The blood of sprinkling" is said to speak "better things than that of Abel" (
Hebrews 12:24); i.e., the blood of Jesus is the reality of which the blood of the offering made by Abel was only the type. The comparison here is between the sacrifice offered by Christ and that offered by Abel, and not between the blood of Christ calling for mercy and the blood of the murdered Abel calling for vengeance, as has sometimes been supposed. It is also said (
Hebrews 11:4) that "Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain." This sacrifice was made "by faith;" this faith rested in God, not only as the Creator and the God of providence, but especially in God as the great Redeemer, whose sacrifice was typified by the sacrifices which, no doubt by the divine institution, were offered from the days of Adam downward. On account of that "faith" which looked forward to the great atoning sacrifice, Abel's offering was accepted of God. Cain's offering had no such reference, and therefore was rejected. Abel was the first martyr, as he was the first of our race to die.
Abel (Hebrews `abhel), lamentation (1 Samuel 6:18), the name given to the great stone in Joshua's field whereon the ark was "set down." The Revised Version, however, following the Targum and the LXX., reads in the Hebrew text 'ebhen (= a stone), and accordingly translates "unto the great stone, whereon they set down the ark." This reading is to be preferred.
Abel (Hebrews `abhel), a grassy place, a meadow. This word enters into the composition of the following words:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ABEL (1)a'-bel (hebhel; Abel; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek Habel; etymology uncertain. Some translation "a breath," "vapor," "transitoriness," which are suggestive of his brief existence and tragic end; others take it to be a variant of Jabal, yabhal, "shepherd" or "herdman,"Genesis 4:20. Compare Assyrian ablu and Babylonian abil, "son"): The second son of Adam and Eve. The absence of the verb harah (Genesis 4:2; compareGenesis 4:1) has been taken to imply, perhaps truly, that Cain and Abel were twins.
1. A Shepherd:
"Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground," thus representing the two fundamental pursuits of civilized life, the two earliest subdivisions of the human race. On the Hebrew tradition of the superiority of the pastoral over agricultural and city life, see The Expositor T, V, 351. The narrative may possibly bear witness to the primitive idea that pastoral life was more pleasing to Yahweh than husbandry.
2. A Worshipper:
"In process of time," the two brothers came in a solemn manner to sacrifice unto Yahweh, in order to express their gratitude to Him whose tenants they were in the land (Genesis 4:3, 4. SeeSACRIFICE).
How Yahweh signified His acceptance of the one offering and rejection of the other, we are not told. That it was due to the difference in the material of the sacrifice or in their manner of offering was probably the belief among the early Israelites, who regarded animal offerings as superior to cereal offerings. Both kinds, however, were fully in accord with Hebrew law and custom. It has been suggested that the Septuagint rendering ofGenesis 4:7 makes Cain's offense a ritual one, the offering not being "correctly" made or rightly divided, and hence rejected as irregular. "If thou makest a proper offering, but dost not cut in pieces rightly, art thou not in fault? Be still!" The Septuagint evidently took the rebuke to turn upon Cain's neglect to prepare his offering according to strict ceremonial requirements. dieles (Septuagint in the place cited.), however, implies nathach (nattach), and would only apply to animal sacrifices. CompareExodus 29:17Leviticus 8:20Judges 19:291 Kings 18:23; and see COUCH.
3. A Righteous Man:
The true reason for the Divine preference is doubtless to be found in the disposition of the brothers (see CAIN). Well-doing consisted not in the outward offering (Genesis 4:7) but in the right state of mind and feeling. The acceptability depends on the inner motives and moral characters of the offerers. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent (abundant, pleiona) sacrifice than Cain" (Hebrews 11:4). The "more abundant sacrifice," Westcott thinks, "suggests the deeper gratitude of Abel, and shows a fuller sense of the claims of God" to the best. Cain's "works (the collective expression of his inner life) were evil, and his brother's righteous" (1 John 3:12). "It would be an outrage if the gods looked to gifts and sacrifices and not to the soul" (Alcibiades II.149E.150A). Cain's heart was no longer pure; it had a criminal propensity, springing from envy and jealousy, which rendered both his offering and person unacceptable. His evil works and hatred of his brother culminated in the act of murder, specifically evoked by the opposite character of Abel's works and the acceptance of his offering. The evil man cannot endure the sight of goodness in another.
4. A Martyr:
Abel ranks as the first martyr (Matthew 23:35), whose blood cried for vengeance (Genesis 4:10; compareRevelation 6:9, 10) and brought despair (Genesis 4:13), whereas that of Jesus appeals to God for forgiveness and speaks peace (Hebrews 12:24) and is preferred before Abel's.
5. A Type:
The first two brothers in history stand as the types and representatives of the two main and enduring divisions of mankind, and bear witness to the absolute antithesis and eternal enmity between good and evil.
M. O. Evans
ABEL (2)
a'-bel ('abhel, "meadow"): A word used in several compound names of places. It appears by itself as the name of a city concerned in the rebellion of Sheba (2 Samuel 20:14; compare1 Samuel 6:18), though it is there probably an abridgment of the name Abel-beth-maacah. In1 Samuel 6:18, where the Hebrew has "the great meadow," and the Greek "the great stone," the King James Version translates "the great stone of Abel."
Greek
6. Habel --Abel, a son of Adam...Abel, a son of Adam. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Habel Phonetic Spelling: (ab'-el) Short Definition:
Abel Definition:
Abel...9. Abilene -- Abilene, territory northwest of Damascus
... Abilene. Of foreign origin (compare 'abel); Abilene, a region of Syria -- Abilene.
see HEBREW 'abel. (abilenes) -- 1 Occurrence. 8, 9. Abilene. 10 ....
2535. Kain -- Cain, a son of Adam
... Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Kain Phonetic Spelling: (kah'-in) Short Definition:
Cain Definition: (Hebrew), Cain, son of Adam and Eve and brother ofAbel...
Strong's Hebrew
62.Abel Beth-maakah -- a city in Northern IsraelAbel Beth-maakah. 61, 62.
Abel Beth-maakah. 63 . a city in Northern
Israel. Transliteration:
Abel Beth-maakah Phonetic Spelling
...65.Abel Mecholah -- Elisha's birthplace in Palestine
Abel Mecholah. 64, 65.Abel Mecholah. 66 . Elisha's birthplace in Palestine.
Transliteration:Abel Mecholah Phonetic Spelling: (aw...
66.Abel Mayim -- "meadow of water"
Abel Mayim. 65, 66.Abel Mayim. 67 . "meadow of water". Transliteration:Abel
Mayim Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale' mah'-yim) Short Definition:Abel-maim....
63.Abel Hashshittim -- a place in the lowlands of Moab
Abel Hashshittim. 62, 63.Abel Hashshittim. 64 . a place in the lowlands
of Moab. Transliteration:Abel Hashshittim Phonetic Spelling...
67.Abel Mitsrayim -- "meadow of Egypt," a place East of the...
Abel Mitsrayim. 66, 67.Abel Mitsrayim. 68 . "meadow of Egypt," a place
East of the Jordan. Transliteration:Abel Mitsrayim Phonetic...
59.Abel -- "meadow," two places in Palestine
... 58, 59.Abel. 60 . "meadow," two places in Palestine. Transliteration:
Abel Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale') Short Definition:Abel....
64.Abel Keramim -- a place in Ammon
Abel Keramim. 63, 64.Abel Keramim. 65 . a place in Ammon. Transliteration:
Abel Keramim Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale' ker-aw-meem...
58.abel -- "meadow," part of a place name
... 57, 58.abel. 59 . "meadow," part of a place name. Transliteration:abel Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-bale') Short Definition: plain.... 57, 58.abel. 59 ....
4259. Mecholathi -- inhab. ofAbel-meholah
... 4258, 4259. Mecholathi. 4260 . inhab. ofAbel-meholah. Transliteration: Mecholathi
Phonetic Spelling: (mekh-o-law-thee') Short Definition: Meholathite....
57.abel -- mourning
... 56, 57.abel. 58 . mourning. Transliteration:abel Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale')
Short Definition: mourning.... 56, 57.abel. 58 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Cain andAbel.
... CAIN ANDABEL. What a sad story the Bible tells us in the fourth chapter of Genesis!
Cain andAbel were brothers, the sons of Adam and Eve....
Cain andAbel. Gen 4:3-8
... BOOK I. On select Passages of Scripture. GENESIS Hymn 2 CAIN andABEL. Gen
4:3-8. John Newton 8,8,8,8. CAIN andABEL. Genesis 4:3-8....
The Significance ofAbel, Seth, and Enos to Christ and his Body...
... Book XV. Chapter 18."The Significance ofAbel, Seth, and Enos to Christ
and His Body the Church. "And to Seth," it is said, "there...
Pelagius Argues thatAbel was Sinless.
... A Treatise on nature and grace, against pelagius; Chapter 44."Pelagius Argues
thatAbel Was Sinless. This, however, even he probably...
Abel's Name and Nature.
... Homily III. Chapter XXVI."Abel's Name and Nature. "But he who amongst the
sons of men had prophecy innate to his soul as belonging...
Index of Subjects.Abel, 124, 136, 193, 414.
... INDEX OF SUBJECTS.Abel, 124, 136, 193, 414. "Ability," distinguished from "will,"
[5]106, [6]219; distinguished from "necessity," [7]107, [8]139....
Cain and his BrotherAbel
... THE OLD TESTAMENT CAIN AND HIS BROTHERABEL. Adam named his wife Eve, because she
was the mother of all living beings. She had two sons, Cain andAbel....
The Three Natures Again Adverted to they are all Exemplified...
... Chapter XXIX."The Three Natures Again Adverted to They are All Exemplified
Amongst Men. For Instance, by Cain, andAbel, and Seth....
He Then Shows, from the Instance of Adam andAbel, and Other...
... Section 3. He then shows, from the instance of Adam andAbel, and other examples,
the absence of alienation of essence in the case of the "generate" and...
But the Same Mother which Brought ForthAbel...
... Book I. Chapter 16. " 25. But the same mother which brought forthAbel?
"25. But the same mother which brought forthAbel, and...
Thesaurus
Abel (22 Occurrences)... Cain, as a husbandman, offered the fruits of the field;
Abel, as a shepherd,
of the firstlings of his flock. "The Lord had respect
...Abel-meholah (3 Occurrences)
Abel-meholah. Abelmeholah,Abel-meholah. A'bel-Meho'lah . Easton's Bible
Dictionary... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ABEL-MEHOLAH....
Abel-shittim (1 Occurrence)
Abel-shittim. Abelshittim,Abel-shittim. Abez . Easton's Bible Dictionary...
25:1; 31:16). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ABEL-SHITTIM....
Abel's (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceAbel's (2 Occurrences).... (BBE). Genesis 4:4 AndAbel gave
an offering of the young lambs of his flock and of their fat....
Abel-maim (1 Occurrence)
Abel-maim. Abelmaim,Abel-maim. A'bel-Ma'im . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ABEL-MAIM. a'-bel-ma'-im ('abhel mayim, "meadow of water")....
Abel-keramim (1 Occurrence)
Abel-keramim. Abelkeramim,Abel-keramim. Abelmaim . Int. Standard Bible
EncyclopediaABEL-CHERAMIM. a'-bel-ker'-a-mim ('abhel...
Abel-mizraim (1 Occurrence)
Abel-mizraim. Abelmizraim,Abel-mizraim. A'bel-Mizraim . Easton's Bible Dictionary...
Its site is unknown. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ABEL-MIZRAIM....
Abel-cheramim (1 Occurrence)
Abel-cheramim. Abelcheramim,Abel-cheramim. Abelkeramim . Easton's Bible
Dictionary... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ABEL-CHERAMIM....
Mehet'abel (2 Occurrences)
Mehet'abel. Mehetabel, Mehet'abel. Mehida . Multi-Version
Concordance Mehet'abel (2 Occurrences). Genesis 36:39 And...
Meshez'abel (3 Occurrences)
Meshez'abel. Meshezabel, Meshez'abel. Meshillemith . Multi-Version
Concordance Meshez'abel (3 Occurrences). Nehemiah...
Resources
Who was Abel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgOf whom was Cain afraid after he killed Abel? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God accept Abel's offering but reject Cain's offering? Why did Cain then kill Abel? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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