Jabal
maleAntediluvianMeaning: “Stream; one who travels”
A descendant of Cain, "the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle" — the originator of nomadic herding.
Biography
Jabal was a son of Lamech (of the line of Cain) by his wife Adah, and one of the three brothers credited in Genesis with founding the basic arts of human culture. Of him it is written that he "was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle" (Genesis 4:20) — the originator of the nomadic, pastoral way of life. Together with his brothers Jubal and Tubal-cain, he represents the early flowering of human ingenuity in the antediluvian world, even within the restless line of Cain.
Life Timeline
Founds the nomadic herding way of life
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Jabal
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Jabal appears.
Scripture Appearances
1 verses in 1 bookGenesis1 verse
Genesis 4:20
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
Frequently asked about Jabal
Who was Jabal in the Bible?
A descendant of Cain, "the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle" — the originator of nomadic herding.
What does the name Jabal mean?
The name Jabal means “Stream; one who travels”.
What did Jabal do in the Bible?
Jabal served as herdsman.
Where does Jabal appear in the Bible?
Jabal is mentioned 1 time across 1 book: Genesis.
What can we learn from Jabal?
The story of Jabal touches on themes of adah, antediluvians, genealogy, lamech — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Jabal's life.
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