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 edit
Jubal is only known 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 edit
- ^ a b c Genesis 4:1
- ^ Genesis 4:2
- ^ Genesis 4:25; 5:3
- ^ Genesis 4:17
- ^ Genesis 4:26; 5:6–7
- ^ a b c d Genesis 4:18
- ^ Genesis 5:9–10
- ^ Genesis 5:12–13
- ^ Genesis 5:15–16
- ^ a b Genesis 4:19
- ^ Genesis 5:18–19
- ^ Genesis 4:20
- ^ Genesis 4:21
- ^ a b Genesis 4:22
- ^ Genesis 5:21–22
- ^ Genesis 5:25–26
- ^ Genesis 5:28–30
- ^ a b c Genesis 5:32
In Islamic sources edit
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]
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ a b c McKinnon 2001.
- ^ "Genesis 42.1 NRSV". BibleGateway.com. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Genesis 42.1 KJV". King James Bible Online. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Genesis 4.21 – NIV". Biblica. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ al-Ṭabarī, A.J.M.J.; Rosenthal, F. (1988). The History of al-Ṭabarī Vol. 1: General Introduction and From the Creation to the Flood. Bibliotheca Persica. State University of New York Press. p. 339. ISBN 978-0-88706-562-0. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
Sources edit
- McKinnon, James W. (2001). "Jubal". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.14520. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
Further reading edit
- Anderson, Gene H. (Spring 1983). "Pythagoras and the Origin of Music Theory". Indiana Theory Review. 6 (3): 35–61. JSTOR 24045969.
- Beichner, Paul E. (1954). The Medieval Representative of Music, Jubal Or Tubalcain?. Notre Dame: Mediaeval Institute, University of Notre Dame. OCLC 1150294948.
- McKinnon, James W. (January 1978). "Jubal vel Pythagoras, quis sit inventor musicae?" [Jubal or Pythagoras, who is the inventor of music?]. The Musical Quarterly. 64 (1). Oxford University Press: 1–28. doi:10.1093/mq/LXIV.1.1. JSTOR 741650.
- Polin, Claire C. J. (1954). Gifts of Jubal: Musical Instruments from the Ancient East. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania University Museum. OCLC 11409458.
- Steadman, John M. (December 1964). "The "Inharmonious Blacksmith": Spenser and the Pythagoras Legend". Publications of the Modern Language Association. 79 (5). Cambridge University Press: 664–665. doi:10.2307/461152. JSTOR 461152. S2CID 163340462.
- Wright, Owen; Poché, Christian; Shiloah, Amnon (2001). "Arab music". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.01139. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
External links edit
Media related to Jubal at Wikimedia Commons- Jubal in an 1851 engraving by August von Kloeber
