Abel
the second son of Adam and Eve, slain by his brother, Cain. Gen. 4.
Sir Frederick Augustus, 1827–1902, English chemist: inventor of cordite.
I. W. 1908–87, U.S. labor leader: president of the United Steelworkers of America 1965–77.
Niels Henrik
[neels hen-rik] /nils ˈhɛn rɪk/ (Show IPA), 1802–29, Norwegian mathematician.
a male given name.
Contemporary Examples
It’s been confirmed: a secret meet In New Orleans, a hotel suite Newt Romney ’round a table There’s a ticket: Cain Abel.
The Song of Newt Gingrich: From Longshot To Hotshot To No Shot April 25, 2012
I am accountable for the way I handled the situation, and at a human level it was unfair to Abel.
How to Get Fired in Spectacular Fashion Nina Strochlic August 21, 2013
He was, understandably, in a sour mood as Patch creative director Abel Lenz began taking photos of him.
Is Tim Armstrong the Lazarus of Aol.? Lloyd Grove December 22, 2013
Then there is the small matter of India, which Pakistanis see as the Cain to its Abel.
Obama’s Pakistan Nightmare Reihan Salam May 4, 2009
Andrew took a tremendous interest in fly fishing, buying a venerated fishing reel company called Abel Reel Co.
Spotlight Shifts to Madoff’s Last Son Allan Dodds Frank December 12, 2010
Historical Examples
Abel has never been absent from us, for a day; has he, my dear?’
The Old Curiosity Shop Charles Dickens
O Abel, was that the something you told me about on the mountain?
Green Mansions W. H. Hudson
He thought he saw the Prince wounded at the same time that Trooper Abel threw up his arms.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 1 (of 6) Louis Creswicke
A dream of a dress that would be, with all the shades of Madame Abel cunningly blended.
The Incomplete Amorist E. Nesbit
I didn’t think Abel’s relations would lay it up against me if I didn’t.
Jerome, A Poor Man Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
noun
(Old Testament) the second son of Adam and Eve, a shepherd, murdered by his brother Cain (Genesis 4:1–8)
masc. proper name, in Old Testament, second son of Adam and Eve, from Hebrew Hebhel, literally “breath,” also “vanity.”
(Heb. Hebhel), a breath, or vanity, the second son of Adam and Eve. He was put to death by his brother Cain (Gen. 4:1-16). Guided by the instruction of their father, the two brothers were trained in the duty of worshipping God. “And in process of time” (marg. “at the end of days”, i.e., on the Sabbath) each of them offered up to God of the first-fruits of his labours. Cain, as a husbandman, offered the fruits of the field; Abel, as a shepherd, of the firstlings of his flock. “The Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering; but unto Cain and his offering he had not respect” (Gen. 4:3-5). On this account Cain was angry with his brother, and formed the design of putting him to death; a design which he at length found an opportunity of carrying into effect (Gen. 4:8,9. Comp. 1 John 3:12). There are several references to Abel in the New Testament. Our Saviour speaks of him as “righteous” (Matt. 23:35). “The blood of sprinkling” is said to speak “better things than that of Abel” (Heb. 12:24); i.e., the blood of Jesus is the reality of which the blood of the offering made by Abel was only the type. The comparison here is between the sacrifice offered by Christ and that offered by Abel, and not between the blood of Christ calling for mercy and the blood of the murdered Abel calling for vengeance, as has sometimes been supposed. It is also said (Heb. 11:4) that “Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” This sacrifice was made “by faith;” this faith rested in God, not only as the Creator and the God of providence, but especially in God as the great Redeemer, whose sacrifice was typified by the sacrifices which, no doubt by the divine institution, were offered from the days of Adam downward. On account of that “faith” which looked forward to the great atoning sacrifice, Abel’s offering was accepted of God. Cain’s offering had no such reference, and therefore was rejected. Abel was the first martyr, as he was the first of our race to die. Abel (Heb. ‘abhel), lamentation (1 Sam. 6:18), the name given to the great stone in Joshua’s field whereon the ark was “set down.” The Revised Version, however, following the Targum and the LXX., reads in the Hebrew text _’ebhen_ (= a stone), and accordingly translates “unto the great stone, whereon they set down the ark.” This reading is to be preferred. Abel (Heb. ‘abhel), a grassy place, a meadow. This word enters into the composition of the following words:
Read Also:
- Abel-meholah
a city in ancient Palestine, east of the Jordan River: the home of Elisha. Judges 7:22; I Kings 4:12; 19:16. meadow of dancing, or the dancing-meadow, the birth-place and residence of the prophet Elisha, not far from Beth-shean (1 Kings 4:12), in the tribe of Issachar, near where the Wady el-Maleh emerges into the valley […]
- Abel-beth-maachah
abel-beth-maachah meadow of the house of Maachah, a city in the north of Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Dan and Ijon, in the tribe of Naphtali. It was a place of considerable strength and importance. It is called a “mother in Israel”, i.e., a metropolis (2 Sam. 20:19). It was besieged by Joab (2 Sam. […]
- Abel-cheramim
abel-cheramim (Judg. 11:33, R.V.; A. V., “plain of the vineyards”), a village of the Ammonites, whither Jephthah pursued their forces.
- Abel-shittim
abel-shittim meadow of the acacias, frequently called simply “Shittim” (Num. 25:1; Josh. 2:1; Micah 6:5), a place on the east of Jordan, in the plain of Moab, nearly opposite Jericho. It was the forty-second encampment of the Israelites, their last resting-place before they crossed the Jordan (Num. 33:49; 22:1; 26:3; 31:12; comp. 25:1; 31:16).
- Abel-mizraim
abel-mizraim meadow of Egypt, or mourning of Egypt, a place “beyond,” i.e., on the west of Jordan, at the “threshing-floor of Atad.” Here the Egyptians mourned seventy days for Jacob (Gen. 50:4-11). Its site is unknown.