Tubal-cain Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Tubal-cain, a descendant of Cain, was the first metalworker mentioned in the Bible, forging tools out of bronze and iron.
the forger of all implements of bronze and iron (GEN 4:22)
Lineage: God › Adam › Cain › Enoch › Irad › Mehujael › Methusael › Lamech › Tubal-cain
Names
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en
Tubal-cain
worldly possession; possessed of confusion
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en
Tubal-cain
· Also called · H8423 none · GEN 4:22 worldly possession; possessed of confusion
- he תּ֣וּבַל קַ֔יִן tuval qayin · H8423 · GEN 4:22
- he תּוּבַל־קַ֫יִן · H8423
- el Θοβελ THobel · none · GEN 4:22
- bg Тувалкаин
Mentioned in (1)
SDA Books
Awaiting permission to publishLinked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
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Conditional birth estimate · c. 3829 BC – 3224 BC
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
Belonged to (1)
Tubal-cain Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Tubal-cain is mentioned in Gen 4:22 as a descendant of Cain, the son of Lamech and Zillah. He is described as a forger of all instruments of bronze and iron, making him the first metalworker mentioned in the Bible. The name Tubal-cain consists of two elements meaning "producer" and "smith," emphasizing his role as a craftsman. No other details are provided about his life or specific works. Tubal-cain's skills in metalworking represent the development of civilization and technology among the descendants of Cain before the flood. His story illustrates God's grace in allowing cultural advancements even among those who had turned away from Him.
Tubal-cain Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
The son of Lamech and Zillah, “an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron” (Gen. 4:22; R.V., “the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron”).
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Tubal-cain_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Tubal-cain@Gen.4.22) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, tubal-cain_2884)