Abel
- Dates
- 3897–3825 BC
Meaning of name: "breath." He was the second son of Adam and Eve. Abel was put to death by his brother Cain when his sacrifice was accepted by God and his brother's was not. Abel was a shepherd.
In detail
The second son of Adam and Eve (Gen 4:2 etc.). The one incident of his life that Scripture records is his offering of a more acceptable sacrifice than that of his brother Cain (vs 3—5). Abel's offering was noteworthy in that, being of the flock, it bespoke his faith in the promised Deliverer, the true Lamb of God, who was to bruise the serpent's head (Gen 3:15 Jn 1:29).
The shedding of its blood was an acknowledgment on the part of Abel that he was a sinner in need of divine mercy and forgiveness (see Lev 17:11 Heb 9:22). Furthermore, Abel's offering was of the choicest of the flock—a "firstling," and "of the fat thereof"—and as such, an evidence of his readiness to give the Lord the best he had. Abel's faithfulness won for his name a place of honor among the worthies of Heb 11.
Bible passages
- Genesis 4:2
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
- Genesis 4:8
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Text of the King James Version.
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