Who Is Abel?

Abel was the second born son of Adam and Eve. He is known as the first righteous seed.

Abel’s original name in Hebrew is (Habal). Habal means “vanity” or “breath”, but this meaning did not represent Abel’s character…sadly, it represented his fate.

Life and Background

Genesis tells us that Abel was a keeper of sheep, while his older brother Cain, the first-born son of Adam and Eve, was a farmer. Adam and Eve tried to raise their children in righteousness, and taught them to bring sacrifices to The Most High Yahawah. When the time came for Cain and Abel to bring the first fruits of their labor to Yahawah, Abel offered the finest sheep of his flock, and Cain offered the finest of his farm from the fruits of the earth.

But as it happened, Yahawah accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. This greatly displeased Abel’s brother, who took the rejection personally and grew envious of Abel. Even though Yahawah spoke with Cain and told him that he would be accepted if he brought a sacrifice from the flock as Abel had, Cain would not listen. Instead, he allowed his jealousy to grow into hatred, and murdered Abel.

So Abel’s life was taken by his own brother. The Bible doesn’t tell us how old Abel was when he died, but we do know that he didn’t have the chance to bear children, and his seed was cut off from the earth. This is why the name meaning “vanity”, “breath” was given to him, because his life only lasted for a short time, as taking one breath in the course of a day. In his premature death, Abel was the first casualty of sin.

Speculation and Prophecy

Although the story of Abel’s life is a tragic one, it can also be seen positively, as the first prophetic sign sent by Yahawah after the fall of man. There are many similarities between Abel’s life, and Christ’s life. For example, Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Christ is known as the Good Shepherd'I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep... I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.' - John 10:11, 14 . Abel was killed by his own brother without cause, and in the same way, Christ was without sin, but was offered up to be crucified by his own brethrenAnd Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,... Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. - Luke 23:13, 20-24. Maybe most significantly, Abel brought a blood sacrifice from the firstfruits of his flock to Yahawah, and it was accepted by Him. Being without sin, Christ is considered the firstfruit of the flock of mankind, and only his blood sacrifice is accepted by Yahawah as an offering and atonement for our sins.