What’s in a Name?: Abel

Hebel = “morning vapor” or “vanity” or “enigma” The etymology of some personal names in the Hebrew Bible points to a person’s nature or emphasizes themes connected with the narratives in which the person appears. The Semitic root hbl means literally “vapor that disappears quickly under the first rays of morning sun” or simply “air” or “breath.” Transcribed to English as Abel, it is the name of Adam’s second son, Hebel, in the Book of Genesis, chapter 4. His life is accordingly described as transient, with no lasting significance for future generations (because he died without heirs). The noun hebel […]