Righteous Blood: Ἄβελ (Strong’s G6: Abel) Points to Ultimate Sacrifice

Ἄβελ

Pronounced: AY-bul

Strong’s G6: From Hebrew origin (הבל); Abel, the second born son of Adam, known for his righteous offering and faithful worship of God. His death at the hands of his brother Cain became a powerful testimony of righteousness and sacrifice, foreshadowing the Messiah’s ultimate sacrifice.

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U – Unveiling this Word

Ἄβελ, transliterated as Abel, carries profound theological significance in the New Testament. The name, derived from Hebrew הבל (hebel), meaning “breath” or “vanity,” takes on deeper meaning in its Greek usage. In the New Testament, Abel stands as the first martyr and exemplar of righteous faith. His story represents the fundamental conflict between righteousness and wickedness, and his blood speaks of both judgment and redemption. Early church fathers often viewed Abel as a type of Messiah, pointing to how his righteous sacrifice and innocent death prefigured Jesus’s perfect offering. Today, Abel’s narrative continues to illustrate the power of faithful worship and the enduring voice of righteous sacrifice.

N – Necessary Information

  • Greek Word: Ἄβελ, Abel, /ˈeɪbəl/
  • Detailed pronunciation: AY-bul
  • Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

  • Direct transliteration from Hebrew הבל (hebel)
  • Root meaning: breath, vapor, vanity
  • No Greek prefixes or suffixes as it’s a transliterated proper name

D – Defining Meanings

  • The second son of Adam and Eve
  • The first righteous martyr
  • An example of true faith and acceptable sacrifice

Translation Options:

  • Abel – Most direct translation maintaining historical identity
  • Able – Archaic variant, less common
  • Havel – Alternative transliteration closer to Hebrew original

E – Exploring Similar Words

Ἅβρααμ (Abraham) /ah-brah-AHM/ – Another patriarchal figure, differs as father of faith rather than first martyr. See G11

R – Reviewing Morphology

Being a proper noun:

  • Case: Various (Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative)
  • Number: Singular only
  • Gender: Masculine
  • Declension: Indeclinable

As a proper name, Ἄβελ remains unchanged in Greek regardless of its grammatical function in the sentence.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical sources uniformly recognize Ἄβελ as a figure of profound theological significance. BDAG emphasizes his role as the first righteous martyr, while Thayer’s highlights the connection between Abel’s blood and Messiah’s sacrifice. LSJ notes the Greek usage primarily in religious contexts. Vine’s emphasizes the contrast between Abel’s sacrifice and Cain’s offering. Strong’s connects the name to the Hebrew concept of breath or vanity. Moulton and Milligan note the name’s appearance in early Christian literature beyond biblical texts, showing its sustained theological importance in early church understanding.

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T – Tracing Related Scriptures

First appearance:
“So that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous [Ἄβελ] Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” Matthew 23:35

Additional References:
Luke 11:51
Hebrews 11:4
Hebrews 12:24

A– Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: WorkText
Josephus: Antiquities“Abel [Ἄβελ] the younger was a lover of righteousness”
Philo: Questions on Genesis“Why is Abel [Ἄβελ] called a keeper of sheep?”
Clement: First Epistle“Through jealousy and envy Abel [Ἄβελ] the righteous was martyred”

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ἄβελ stands as a testament to righteous faith and acceptable worship. His story embodies the eternal conflict between righteousness and wickedness, while his blood speaks of both judgment and redemption. In the gospel narrative, Abel’s righteous sacrifice points forward to Jesus the Messiah, whose perfect sacrifice brings eternal redemption. His legacy reminds us that true worship comes from a heart of faith and that righteous living, even in the face of opposition, speaks powerfully for generations to come.

D – Did You Know?

  1. Abel’s blood is the first mentioned in Scripture to “cry out” to God
  2. He is the first person in Scripture to be called “righteous”
  3. His sacrifice represents the first accepted worship offering in human history

Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations independently. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.

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