Tubal-Cain
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Topical Encyclopedia
Biblical Reference: Tubal-cain is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, specifically in Genesis 4:22. The Berean Standard Bible states: "As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah."

Genealogy and Family: Tubal-cain is a descendant of Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve who infamously killed his brother Abel. Tubal-cain is the son of Lamech and Zillah, making him a member of the seventh generation from Adam. His siblings include Jabal, Jubal, and his sister Naamah. This lineage is part of the antediluvian (pre-Flood) generations, which are characterized by their advancements in various human endeavors.

Occupation and Contributions: Tubal-cain is noted for his skills as a "forger of every implement of bronze and iron." This description highlights his role as an early metallurgist or blacksmith, indicating a significant advancement in human technology and craftsmanship. The mention of both bronze and iron suggests that Tubal-cain was involved in the development and use of metal tools and weapons, which would have been crucial for agriculture, construction, and possibly warfare. His work represents a pivotal moment in the technological evolution of early human societies, marking the transition from the use of simple stone tools to more complex metal implements.

Cultural and Theological Significance: Tubal-cain's role as a metalworker is significant in the context of the Genesis narrative, as it underscores the rapid development of human culture and technology following the Fall. His skills in metallurgy are seen as part of the broader cultural achievements of Cain's descendants, who are depicted as pioneers in various fields such as agriculture, music, and urbanization. From a theological perspective, Tubal-cain's account reflects the dual nature of human progress: the ability to create and innovate, which can be used for both constructive and destructive purposes.

Symbolism and Interpretation: In conservative Christian thought, Tubal-cain's expertise in metallurgy is often viewed as a symbol of human ingenuity and the God-given ability to harness the resources of creation. However, it also serves as a reminder of the potential for human achievements to be misused, as seen in the subsequent narrative of the Flood, where human wickedness leads to divine judgment. Tubal-cain's legacy is thus a complex one, embodying both the potential for human creativity and the moral challenges that accompany technological advancement.

Extra-Biblical References: Tubal-cain is not extensively mentioned outside the biblical text, but his name and role have been referenced in various historical and literary contexts. In some traditions, he is associated with the mythical figure of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking, highlighting the universal recognition of metallurgy as a foundational human skill.

Legacy: Tubal-cain's contribution to the development of metallurgy has left a lasting impact on human civilization. His account serves as an early example of the transformative power of technology and the enduring human quest for innovation and mastery over the natural world.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Tubal-Cain

worldly possession; possessed of confusion

ATS Bible Dictionary
Tubal-Cain

Son of Lamech and Zillah, inventor of the art of forging metals, Genesis 4:22.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
The son of Lamech and Zillah, "an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron" (Genesis 4:22; R.V., "the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron").
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TUBAL-CAIN

tu'-bal-kan (tubhal qayin): One of the sons of Lamech (Genesis 4:22). He is a brother of Jabal and Jubal, who appear to have been the founders of several industries and articles The text (loTesh kol choresh nechosheth u-bharzel) has been the cause of endless dispute. Holzinger and Gunkel hold that laTash was a marginal gloss to charash, and that, as in Genesis 4:20 and 21, there stood before kal originally hu hayah 'abhi. This would make Tubal-cain the founder of the metal industry, and place him in a class similar to that of his brothers. The Septuagint, however, has no equivalent of qayin. This omission leads Dillmann, Wellhausen, and others to the position that "Tubal" originally stood alone, and qayin, being a later addition, was translated "smith." Many commentators identify Tubal with the Assyrian Tubal, a people living Southwest of the Black Sea; in later times they were called "Tibareni" (Ezekiel 27:13). Tubal may be the eponymous ancestor of these people, whose principal industry seems to have been the manufacture of vessels of bronze and iron.

Horace J. Wolf

Strong's Hebrew
5279a. Naamah -- a sister of Tubal-cain, also an Ammonitess
... 5279, 5279a. Naamah. 5279b . a sister of Tubal-cain, also an Ammonitess.
Transliteration: Naamah Short Definition: Naamah. Word ...
/hebrew/5279a.htm - 5k

5279. Na'amah -- a sister of Tubal-cain, also an Ammonitess
... Na'amah. 5279a . a sister of Tubal-cain, also an Ammonitess. Transliteration:
Na'amah Phonetic Spelling: (nah-am-aw') Short Definition: Naamah. Naamah ...
/hebrew/5279.htm - 5k

8423. Tubal Qayin -- a son of Lamech
Tubal Qayin. 8422, 8423. Tubal Qayin. 8424 . a son of Lamech. Transliteration:
Tubal Qayin Phonetic Spelling: (too-bal' kah'-yin) Short Definition: Tubal-cain ...
/hebrew/8423.htm - 6k

8424. tugah -- grief
... Tubal-cain. From yagah; depression (of spirits); concretely a grief -- heaviness,
sorrow. see HEBREW yagah. 8423, 8424. tugah. 8425 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8424.htm - 6k

Library

Of the Two Fathers and Leaders who Sprang from one Progenitor.
... And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass
and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah." [823] Here terminate all ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 17 of the two fathers.htm

The Life of Adam
... Of Zilla he begat Tubal-cain, which found first the craft of smithery and working
of iron, and made things for war, and sculptures and gravings in metal to the ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of adam.htm

Stedfastness in the Old Paths.
... our houses, and buy and sell and get gain; how we may cross the sea in ships; how
we may make "fine linen for the merchant," or, like Tubal-Cain, be artificers ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xviii stedfastness in the.htm

Noah's Justice
... We read among them of Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every workman in brass and iron;
and the old traditions in the East, where these men dwelt, are full of ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon x noahs justice.htm

Chapter iv
... Adam Adam Cain Seth Enoch Enosh Irad Kenan Mehujael Mahalalel Methushael Jared Lamech
Enoch Jabal-Jubal-Tubal Cain Methuselah Lamech Noah Shem-Ham-Japheth. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter iv.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... The story of Tubal-Cain (Genesis 4:22) shows the antiquity of the ironworker's art
among the Israelites; the smith is practically the only artisan to be ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Extracts No. vii.
... We read Genesis 4:22, that Tubal-cain was an instructor of every artificer in brass
and iron, and if reason has any thing to do in this case, we may suppose ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no vii.htm

Thesaurus
Tubalcain (1 Occurrence)
... This would make Tubal-cain the founder of the metal industry, and place him in a
class similar to that of his brothers. ...Tubalcain (1 Occurrence). ...
/t/tubalcain.htm - 8k

Tubal-cain (1 Occurrence)
Tubal-cain. Tubalcain, Tubal-cain. Tubal-cain's . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
Tubalcain, Tubal-cain. Tubal-cain's . Reference Bible.
/t/tubal-cain.htm - 8k

Tubal-cain's (1 Occurrence)
Tubal-cain's. Tubal-cain, Tubal-cain's. Tubes . Multi-Version
Concordance Tubal-cain's (1 Occurrence). Genesis 4:22 ...
/t/tubal-cain's.htm - 6k

Tubal (9 Occurrences)
... Genesis 4:22 Zillah also gave birth to TubalCain, the forger of every cutting
instrument of brass and iron. TubalCain's sister was Naamah. ...
/t/tubal.htm - 12k

Zillah (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Shadow, one of the wives of Lamech, of the line of Cain,
and mother of Tubal-cain (Genesis 4:19, 22). ...TubalCain's sister was Naamah. ...
/z/zillah.htm - 7k

Naamah (5 Occurrences)
... NAAMAH (1). na'-a-ma. (na`amah, "pleasant"; Noema): (1) Daughter of Lamech and Zillah,
and sister of Tubal-cain (Genesis 4:22 ...TubalCain's sister was Naamah. ...
/n/naamah.htm - 10k

Forger (1 Occurrence)
... is the Revised Version (British and American) rendering of laTas "to smite," or
"hammer," in Genesis 4:22 King James Version: "Tubal-cain, an instructor of ...
/f/forger.htm - 7k

Iron (104 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Tubal-Cain is the first-mentioned worker in iron
(Genesis 4:22). The ... iron. TubalCain's sister was Naamah. ...
/i/iron.htm - 50k

Na'amah (5 Occurrences)
... Genesis 4:22 Zillah also gave birth to TubalCain, the forger of every cutting
instrument of brass and iron. TubalCain's sister was Naamah. (See RSV). ...
/n/na'amah.htm - 8k

Instructor (6 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEY NIV). Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bore Tubalcain, an instructor
of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. ...
/i/instructor.htm - 8k

Resources
Who was Tubal-Cain in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Of whom was Cain afraid after he killed Abel? | GotQuestions.org

What/where was the land of Nod in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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