Genesis 4:21

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

American Standard Version (1901)

And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.

Bible in Basic English

And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all players on instruments of music.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of them that play upon the harp and the organs.

Free Bible Version

He had a brother named Jubal; he was the father of all those who play stringed and wind instruments.

Geneva Bible 1599

And his brothers name was Iubal, who was the father of all that play on the harpe and organes.

King James (Authorized) Version

And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

One Unity Resource Bible

His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

Plain English Version

Adah had another son, called Jubal. Jubal grew up and was the first person to play musical instruments. He played a harp and a flute.

Translation for Translators

Later, Jabal was the first person who lived in tents because he traveled from place to place to take care of livestock. His younger brother’s name was Jubal. He was the first person who made/played a ◄lyre/stringed instrument► and a flute.

Unlocked Literal Bible

His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of those who play the harp and pipe.

Noah Webster Bible

And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

World English Bible

His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

Young's Literal Translation

and the name of his brother [is] Jubal, he hath been father of every one handling harp and organ.

Context

The Descendants of Cain

²⁰Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.²¹And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

Sermons

(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5

Chuck Smith

1.8K

Summary

This verse mentions Jubal, who is described as the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. It highlights the early development of music and craftsmanship in human civilization, showcasing the creativity and skills that God has bestowed upon His people. Jubal's legacy serves as a reminder of the diverse talents and abilities that individuals possess, reflecting the beauty of God's creation. Through music and craftsmanship, humanity can express emotions, worship God, and bring joy to others, demonstrating the richness of God's gifts to His children.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jubal - the father - i.e. The inventor of musical instruments, such as the כנור kinnor, which we translate harp, and the עוגב ugab, which we render organ; it is very likely that both words are generic, the former including under it all stringed instruments, and the latter, all wind instruments.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain,.... Thought by many to be the same with Vulcan, his name and business agreeing; for the names are near in sound, Tubalcain may easily pass into Vulcan; and who, with the Heathens, was the god of the smiths, and the maker of Jupiter's thunderbolts, as this was an artificer in iron and brass, as follows: his name is compounded of two words, the latter of which was no doubt put into his name in memory of Cain his great ancestor; the former Josephus (u) reads Thobel, and says of him, that he exceeded all in strength, and had great skill in military affairs: an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron; he taught men the way of melting metals, and of making armour and weapons of war, and other instruments, for various uses, out of them; and he seems to be the same with the Chrysor of Sanchoniatho; for he says (w) of them (Agreus and Halieus) were begotten two brothers, the inventors of iron, and of working of it: one of these, called Chrysor, is said to be Hephaestus or Vulcan; and Chrysor, as Bochartus (x) seems rightly to conjecture, is "Choresh-Ur, a worker in fire"; that, by means of fire, melted metals, and cast them into different forms, and for different uses; and one of these words is used in the text of Tubalcain; and so, according to Diodorus Siculus (y), Vulcan signifies fire, and was not only the inventor of fire, but he says he was the inventor of all works in iron, brass, gold, and silver, and of all other things wrought by fire, and of all other uses of fire, both by artificers and all other men, and therefore he was called by all "fire". Clemens of Alexandria (z) ascribes the invention of brass and iron to the Idaeans or priests of Cybele in Cyprus; and so Sophocles in Strabo (a): and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah; whose name signifies "pleasant", fair and beautiful; and is thought by some to be the Venus of the Heathens; the Arabic writers (b) say she was a most beautiful woman, and found out colours and painting; and by others Minerva; and Josephus (c) says she excelled in the knowledge of divine things; and Minerva is by the Greeks called Nemanoum (d). The Jews say (e) she was the wife of Noah; and some of them say (f) she was the wife of one Shimron, and the mother of the evil spirit Asmodeus, mentioned in Tobit, and of whom other demons were begotten: the Targuru of Jonathan adds,"she was the mistress of lamentation and songs;''but our Bishop Cumberland (g) conjectures, that she was the wife of Ham, was with him in the ark, and after the flood was the means of leading him into idolatry: what led him to this conjecture was, that he observed in Plutarch, that the wife of Cronus, the same with Ham, is by some called Nemaus, which brought Naamah to his mind. Josephus (h) makes the number of children Lamech had by his two wives to be seventy seven. (u) Antiqu. l. 1. c. 2. sect. 2. (w) Ut supra. (Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 1. p. 35.) (x) Canaan, l. 2. c. 2. col. 706. (y) Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 11, 13. & l. 5. p. 341. (z) Stromat. l. 1. p. 307. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 34. c. 1, 2. (a) Geograph. l. 10. p. 326. (b) Elmacinus, p. 8. apud Hottinger. Smegma Oriental. l. 1. C. 8. p. 232. (c) Antiqu. l. 1. c. 2. sect. 2. (d) Plutarch. de Jide. (e) Bereshit Rabba, sect. 23. fol. 20. 3. Jarchi in loc. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 1. 2. (f) R. Elias Levita in Tishbi, fol. 19, 21. (g) History of Sanchoniatho, p. 107. (h) Antiqu. l. 1. c. 2. sect. 2.

Genesis 4:21

The Descendants of Cain

²⁰Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.²¹And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

American Standard Version (1901)

And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.

Bible in Basic English

And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all players on instruments of music.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of them that play upon the harp and the organs.

Free Bible Version

He had a brother named Jubal; he was the father of all those who play stringed and wind instruments.

Geneva Bible 1599

And his brothers name was Iubal, who was the father of all that play on the harpe and organes.

King James (Authorized) Version

And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

One Unity Resource Bible

His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

Plain English Version

Adah had another son, called Jubal. Jubal grew up and was the first person to play musical instruments. He played a harp and a flute.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of those who play the harp and pipe.

Noah Webster Bible

And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

World English Bible

His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

Young's Literal Translation

and the name of his brother [is] Jubal, he hath been father of every one handling harp and organ.

Adam Clarke
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary