Jubal (Bible) Explained
| Jubal |
| Birth Name: | Jubal |
| Occupation: | Musician |
| Known For: | Forefather of all musicians |
| Other Names: | Yubal, Yuval |
| Parents: | Lamech and Adah |
| Relations: | Jabal (brother)
Tubal-cain (half-brother)
Naamah (half-sister) |
Jubal (also Yuval, Yubal or Tubal; – Yūḇāl) is a biblical figure in Genesis 4:21 of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. 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.
Biblical narrative
Jubal is only known from his appearance in Genesis 4:21 of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. 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 (he|כנור) and (Hebrew: עוגב, a reed instrument, perhaps a flute). The translations of these vary depending on the edition:
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.[1]
References
Sources
- Encyclopedia: McKinnon . James W. . James McKinnon . 2001 . . Jubal . . Oxford . 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.14520 . 978-1-56159-263-0 . subscription .
Further reading
- Anderson . Gene H. . Spring 1983 . Pythagoras and the Origin of Music Theory . . 6 . 3 . 35–61 . 24045969 .
- Book: Beichner, Paul E. . 1954 . The Medieval Representative of Music, Jubal Or Tubalcain? . Mediaeval Institute, University of Notre Dame . Notre Dame . 1150294948 .
- McKinnon . James W. . James McKinnon . January 1978 . Jubal vel Pythagoras, quis sit inventor musicae? . Jubal or Pythagoras, who is the inventor of music? . . . English . 64 . 1 . 1–28 . 10.1093/mq/LXIV.1.1 . 741650 .
- Book: Polin, Claire C. J. . Claire Polin . 1954 . Gifts of Jubal: Musical Instruments from the Ancient East . University of Pennsylvania University Museum . Philadelphia . 11409458 .
- Steadman . John M. . December 1964 . The "Inharmonious Blacksmith": Spenser and the Pythagoras Legend . Publications of the Modern Language Association . . 79 . 5 . 664–665 . 461152 . 10.2307/461152 . 163340462 .
- Encyclopedia: Wright . Owen . Poché . Christian . Christian Poché . Shiloah . Amnon . 2001 . . Arab music . . Oxford . 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.01139 . 978-1-56159-263-0 . subscription .
External links
Notes and References
- Book: al-Ṭabarī, A.J.M.J. . Rosenthal . F. . The History of al-Ṭabarī Vol. 1: General Introduction and From the Creation to the Flood . State University of New York Press . Bibliotheca Persica . 1988 . 339 . 978-0-88706-562-0 . 2024-02-06.
