The BibleGospel Companion

Abel

הֶ֫בֶל · he.vel · H1893Ἄβελ · Abel · G0006“a city; mourning; vanity; breath; vapor” Hitchcock's 18699 mentions in 4 books, most in Genesis (5)

Who he was

Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve, born after his brother Cain. He was a shepherd, while Cain was a farmer. Both brothers brought offerings to God, but God accepted Abel's offering and rejected Cain's. This led to Cain's jealousy and anger, and he killed Abel in a field.

God confronted Cain about Abel's murder, and as a result, Cain was cursed to be a wanderer on the earth. The New Testament references Abel as an example of faith (Hebrews 11:4) and as a righteous man whose blood cried out for justice (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51). Abel's blood is also contrasted with the blood of Jesus, which speaks of better things (Hebrews 12:24). After Abel's death, Adam and Eve had another son named Seth.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherAdamMotherEveSiblingsCain, Seth
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

9 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
GenesisChapter 4: 5 mentions5 mentions
Genesis 4:2Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.Genesis 4:4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,Genesis 4:8Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.Genesis 4:9Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”Genesis 4:25Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
MatthewChapter 23: 1 mention1 mention
Matthew 23:35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the…
LukeChapter 11: 1 mention1 mention
Luke 11:51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.
HebrewsChapter 11: 1 mentionChapter 12: 1 mention2 mentions
Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through…Hebrews 12:24to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

What the dictionary says

(Heb. Hebhel), a breath, or vanity, the second son of Adam and Eve.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources