Jubal (Bible)

This article is about the person in Genesis 4. For other people of this name, see Jubal.

Jubal (also Yuval, Yubal or Tubal; Hebrew: יוּבָל – Yūḇāl) is a biblical figure in Genesis 4:21 of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament.^[1] Mentioned only once, he is sometimes regarded by Christians, particularly by medieval commentators, as the 'inventor of music'. A descendant of Cain, his father is Lamech and his brother is Jabal.^[1]

Jubal
Panel of Jubal playing the flute by Nino Pisano, 1334–1336
Born	Jubal
Other names	Yubal, Yuval
Occupation	Musician
Known for	Forefather of all musicians
Parent(s)	Lamech and Adah
Relatives	Jabal (brother) Tubal-cain (half-brother) Naamah (half-sister)

Biblical narrative

Jubal is known only from his appearance in Genesis 4:21 of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament.^[1] The account describes him as a descendant of Cain and the son of Lamech and Adah. He is also a brother of Jabal, and half-brother of Tubal-cain and Naamah. Genesis credits him as the forefather of certain instruments: the kinnor (Hebrew: כנור) and ʿuḡāḇ (עוגב, a reed instrument, perhaps a flute). The translations of these vary depending on the edition:

"he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe" (NRSV)^[2]

"he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ" (KJV)^[3]

"he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes" (NIV)^[4]

Family tree

Jubal and Family, by Kristian Zahrtmann, 1876–1878

Adam[a]

Eve[a]

Cain[a]

Abel[b]

Seth[c]

Enoch[d]

Enos[e]

Irad[f]

Kenan[g]

Mehujael[f]

Mahalalel[h]

Methushael[f]

Jared[i]

Adah[j]

Lamech[f]

Zillah[j]

Enoch[k]

Jabal[l]

Jubal[m]

Tubal-Cain[n]

Naamah[n]

Methuselah[o]

Lamech[p]

Noah[q]

Shem[r]

Ham[r]

Japheth[r]

1. Genesis 4:1
2. Genesis 4:2
3. Genesis 4:25; 5:3
4. Genesis 4:17
5. Genesis 4:26; 5:6–7
6. Genesis 4:18
7. Genesis 5:9–10
8. Genesis 5:12–13
9. Genesis 5:15–16
10. Genesis 4:19
11. Genesis 5:18–19
12. Genesis 4:20
13. Genesis 4:21
14. Genesis 4:22
15. Genesis 5:21–22
16. Genesis 5:25–26
17. Genesis 5:28–30
18. Genesis 5:32

In Islamic sources

According to an unnamed Jewish source mentioned in al-Tabari's 915 History of the Prophets and Kings, Jubal invented musical instruments during the time of Mahalalel.^[5]