The Meaning of Abel’s Name

By Dr. Nicholas J. Schaser - June 27, 2018

After leaving the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve have their first two sons: “Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and
bore Cain (‫ ;קין‬qayin), saying, ‘I have gotten (‫ ;קניתי‬qaniti) a man with the Lord. And again, she bore his brother Abel” (Gen
4:1-2a). Cain gets his name because it sounds like the Hebrew word for “to get” or “possess” (‫ ;קנה‬qanah). The astute
reader might ask: Why does the Bible explain the rationale for Cain’s name, but not Abel’s? The reason is that the
almost immediate death of Eve’s younger son will tell the reader why Abel gets his name.

In Hebrew, Abel (‫ ;הבל‬Hevel) means “vapor” or “breath” – something that is here today and gone tomorrow.
According to Proverbs, “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor (‫ ;הבל‬hevel) and a snare of death”
(Prov 21:6). Lamenting the brevity of a human life, the psalmist says to God, “My lifetime is nothing before you. Surely all
humanity stands as a mere breath (‫( ”)הבל‬Ps 39:5 cf. 39:11; 78:33; 94:11; 144:4). Similarly, Job states, “I loathe my life;
I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath (‫( ”)הבל‬Job 7:16).

In light of the meaning of Abel’s name, readers should not be shocked to see that a mere six verses after Abel’s birth, “Cain
rose up against his brother Abel and murdered him” (Gen 4:8). Those who can read the Bible in its original language
don’t need an explicit explanation for why Abel gets his name; when we hear that Eve has a son named ‫ הבל‬we
know that, like a vapor, he won’t be around for long! Despite this tragedy, God’s love has the last word. Soon after
Abel’s death, “Adam again knew his wife Eve and she bore a son and called his name Seth (‫שׁת‬
ֵ ; Shet), for she said, ‘God
has appointed (‫שׁת‬
ַ ; shat) for me another offspring in place of Abel” (Gen 4:25-26). Although Abel leaves the world like a
wisp at the hands of his brother Cain, God reinforces Adam and Eve’s family line by appointing Seth who, according to
Jewish tradition, is one of the most virtuous people in all of biblical history.

The Bible can provide us with truth, but it can also be difficult to decipher! Whether you're looking for some biblical
direction, stumped on scriptural questions, or just want to confirm that you're already on the right track, join the growing
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