Second son of Adam and Eve; first martyr
After the Fall · Old Testament
The second son of Adam and Eve — a keeper of sheep whose offering pleased God and whose murder by his brother Cain made him the Bible's first martyr, whose blood 'speaketh' (Hebrews 12:24).
Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve, younger brother of Cain (Genesis 4:2). He was a keeper of sheep. When the brothers brought offerings to the LORD, Cain offered the fruit of the ground and Abel offered 'of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof' (Genesis 4:4). God 'had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect' (Genesis 4:4-5). Hebrews 11:4 reveals the reason: 'By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.' Cain, angry at God's preference, rose up and killed Abel in the field (Genesis 4:8). Abel became the Bible's first murder victim and the first martyr — killed not for evil but for righteous worship. The blood of Abel cried to God from the ground (Genesis 4:10). The New Testament treats Abel as a witness of faith. Hebrews 11:4 — first in the hall of faith. Matthew 23:35 — Jesus speaks of 'the blood of righteous Abel.' Hebrews 12:24 — Christ's blood 'speaketh better things than that of Abel.' Abel's blood cried for justice; Christ's blood proclaims mercy. Abel was replaced by Seth (Genesis 4:25) — 'For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.' Through Seth came the line of faith that led ultimately to Christ. Abel is the Bible's first picture of innocent suffering — and the first foreshadowing of Christ, who also was killed by his brothers and whose blood speaks.
Second son after Cain
"By faith" (Hebrews 11:4)
First murder; first martyr
For justice
"By faith Abel offered"
Abel's significance: (1) He is the Bible's first martyr — killed for righteous worship. (2) Hebrews 11:4 makes him the first witness in the 'hall of faith.' (3) His acceptable offering teaches that faith is what makes worship pleasing — 'by faith Abel offered.' (4) His blood crying from the ground (Genesis 4:10) is the first picture of innocent blood calling for justice — fulfilled and surpassed in Christ. (5) Hebrews 12:24 contrasts Abel's blood (justice) with Christ's blood (mercy).
Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve, a keeper of sheep. He offered an acceptable sacrifice to God 'by faith' (Hebrews 11:4) and was murdered by his older brother Cain out of jealousy (Genesis 4:1-8). He is the Bible's first martyr. The NT honors him as the first witness in Hebrews 11's hall of faith.
Hebrews 11:4 — 'By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.' The text emphasizes faith — the heart with which Abel brought his offering. Abel brought 'the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof' (Genesis 4:4) — his best, his first, with worship. Cain's offering seems to have been routine and without faith. God looked at the heart, not the type of offering.
Genesis 4:10 — God said to Cain: 'the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.' Abel's blood cried for justice. Hebrews 12:24 — Christ's blood 'speaketh better things than that of Abel.' Abel's blood calls for vengeance; Christ's blood proclaims mercy and forgiveness. The contrast is one of the NT's most beautiful theological points.
Hebrews 11:4 honors Abel as a person of faith — 'by faith Abel offered.' He was reckoned righteous through faith, just as believers under the new covenant are. Abel could not yet have known Christ by name, but he trusted the God who would send him. His name leads the list in Hebrews 11. The line of faith begins with him.