Abel
“Breath or vanity, indicating transitoriness”
Summary
The second son of Adam and Eve, whose faithful sacrifice of a firstling from his flock was accepted by God, leading to his murder by his jealous brother Cain and establishing him as the first martyr.
☩Identity and Occupation
Abel was the second son born to Adam and Eve, with his name deriving from the Hebrew word meaning "breath" or "vanity," possibly indicating the transitory nature of his life or reflecting his mother's disappointment that Cain had not proven to be the promised Redeemer. Some scholars suggest his name may be a variant of Jabal, meaning "shepherd" or "herdsman." Abel became a keeper of sheep, representing one of the two fundamental pursuits of early civilized life, while his brother Cain tilled the ground.
☩The Offering
In the course of time, both brothers brought offerings to God: Cain presented the fruits of the ground, while Abel offered the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions. God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's. The author of Hebrews attributes this distinction to faith, stating that "by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain." This faith implied obedience to a prior divine command regarding the nature of acceptable sacrifice. Abel's animal offering acknowledged that sin's penalty is death and prefigured the future atonement through the Messiah, while Cain's offering lacked this recognition of his sinful state and need for propitiation. God testified to Abel's righteousness, likely through fire from heaven consuming his sacrifice.
☩Death and Legacy
Cain, consumed by envy at his brother's acceptance, murdered Abel in the field, making him the first martyr. Jesus referred to Abel as "righteous" and identified him as the first in the long line of martyrs whose blood would be required of Israel's generation. Abel's blood "cried out from the ground" for vengeance, contrasting with the blood of Christ which speaks mercy and forgiveness. Jewish tradition placed Abel's murder and tomb near Damascus, though this likely arose from confusion with the ancient city of Abila.
☩Theological Significance
Church fathers regarded Abel as a type of Christ and the righteous, while Cain represented the unregenerate natural man. Augustine wrote that Abel represented the spiritual man who, as a stranger and pilgrim on earth, looked forward to the heavenly city, while Cain founded an earthly city. The first two brothers thus stand as representatives of the two enduring divisions of humanity, witnessing to the eternal enmity between good and evil. John emphasized that Cain was "of the evil one" and murdered his brother because his own works were evil while Abel's were righteous, illustrating the absence of love that characterizes wickedness.
Related Verses22 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Abel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Abel (1)," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Abel," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Abel," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 5.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "Abel," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. I (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).
- 6.George Morrish, "Abel," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 7.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Abel," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).