Abel
Who was Abel? Adam and Eve's shepherd son, killed in the field by his brother Cain after God accepted his offering. Where is his tomb, and how old was he?
- Manner of death
- Killed by his brother Cain (The Bible: Genesis 4:8, Genesis 4:4-5, Matthew 23:35)
- Burial place
- Not in the Bible; tradition: near Damascus (Tradition)
- Place of death
- In the field; no place named (The Bible: Genesis 4:8, Genesis 3:23, Genesis 4:2)
- Age at death
- Not stated in the Bible (Not stated in the Bible: Genesis 4:25, Genesis 5:3)
Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve, a shepherd who kept flocks. While his older brother Cain worked the soil, Abel brought an offering from the firstborn of his flock and their best portions. God looked with favour on Abel's offering but not on Cain's, and Cain, overcome by anger, drew him into the field and killed him. Abel is the first person in the Bible to be killed. The New Testament remembers him: Jesus calls him righteous, Hebrews holds up his offering as an example of faith and speaks of Jesus' blood as speaking better than Abel's. Traditions around Damascus point to his tomb.
Read the chapters
- Genesis 4
The story of humanity's first conflict between brothers, tracing how envy hardens into anger and anger into irreversible violence, and the exile that follows.
- Matthew 23
- Luke 11
- Hebrews 11
The 'hall of faith' chapter, defining faith by pointing to people from Abraham to Moses who trusted God against the odds.
- Hebrews 12
A chapter that likens faith to a long race, inviting readers to see hardships along the way as maturing discipline and to press on toward the goal without giving up.
Related topics
Related places
- Jerusalem
- Bethlehem
- Nazareth
- Galilee
- Egypt
- Garden of Eden
- Jordan River
- Gethsemane
- Golgotha
- Mount of Olives
- Haran
- Mountains of Ararat
- Ur
- Canaan
- Hebron
- Jericho
- Damascus
- Tyre
- Sidon
- Moab
- Shechem
- Bethany
- Capernaum
- Dead Sea (Salt Sea)
- Red Sea
- Sodom and Gomorrah
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Hope
- Bible Verses About Prayer
- Bible Verses of Comfort
- Bible Verses About Forgiveness
- Bible Verses About Patience
- Bible Verses About Faith
- Bible Verses About Creation
- Bible Verses About Family
- Bible Verses About Marriage
- Bible Verses About Money and Contentment
- Bible Verses About Humility
- Bible Verses About Generosity
- Bible Verses About Jesus
- Bible Verses About Holiness
- Bible Verses About Witness
- Bible Verses About Loneliness
- Bible Verses About Trials and Testing
- Bible Verses About Healing
- Bible Verses About Peace and Rest
- Bible Verses About God's Promises
- Bible Verses About Work and Labor
- Bible Verses About Mercy
- Bible Verses About Honesty
Reading plans
- The Bible for Beginners — 10 Days
- Holy Week — The Final Days of Jesus
- Two Weeks in the Parables of Jesus
- Advent — 24 Days to Christmas
- The Bible in a Year — 365 Days from Cover to Cover
Related guides
- What Is Sin (Günah)?
What does the word sin mean in the Bible, how is its origin described and how does it relate to forgiveness? A short, neutral and non-denominational guide.
Books
People in the Bible
How did Abel die?
Abel was attacked and killed in the field by his older brother Cain (Genesis 4:8). Cain had become furious when God accepted Abel's offering but not his own (Genesis 4:4-5). The text does not mention a weapon. Jesus speaks of 'righteous Abel' (Matthew 23:35), and he is the first person in the Bible to be killed.
Where is Abel buried?
The Bible does not say where Abel was buried. In local Islamic tradition, his tomb is shown at the Nabi Habil Mosque in the mountains west of Damascus. The same regional tradition places the murder on Mount Qasiyun, which overlooks Damascus, at a spot known as the Cave of Blood. These details come from later tradition, not from the Bible.
Where was Abel killed?
The Bible only says that Abel was killed in the field, without naming a place (Genesis 4:8); Cain had invited him to go out there. It happened after Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden, when Cain worked the soil and Abel kept flocks (Genesis 3:23; 4:2). The account placing it on Mount Qasiyun in Damascus is a later tradition.
How old was Abel when he died?
The Bible does not say how old Abel was when he died. The only time clue is that Seth was born after Abel's death, when Adam was 130 (Genesis 4:25; 5:3). So Abel was killed before Adam's 130th year, but his own age cannot be worked out. The Bible also never mentions Abel marrying or having children.
Why did Cain kill Abel?
Genesis says Cain grew furious when God accepted Abel's offering but not his own (Genesis 4:4-5). Although God warned him to master sin, he killed his brother (Genesis 4:7-8). 1 John 3:12 explains why: Cain's own deeds were evil, while his brother's were righteous.
Why was Abel's offering accepted?
According to Hebrews 11:4, Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and was commended as righteous. Genesis also notes that he brought the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions, the most valuable part (Genesis 4:4).