Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve, whose name means 'vapor' or 'breath.' A keeper of sheep, he offered the firstlings of his flock and their fat by faith and was accepted by God, only to be murdered by his brother Cain, becoming history's first righteous man and martyr.
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Abel was the second human figure in the opening chapters of Scripture, born into the first family at the dawn of creation. According to Genesis, he was the younger son of Adam and Eve, growing up alongside his older brother Cain. The two brothers chose different paths in life: Abel became a keeper of sheep, tending his flocks with care, while Cain worked the ground as a tiller of the soil. These distinct vocations would also shape the difference in how each presented his offering to God. In the account of their sacrifices, Abel brought the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof before the LORD, and Genesis records that the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering. The New Testament book of Hebrews further explains that by faith Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received the testimony that he was righteous. Yet this accepted worship did not shield him from harm. Abel was killed by his brother Cain, making him the first victim of fratricide in human history and establishing him in the biblical tradition as the first martyr. Although Abel's life was cut short by violence, his legacy carries profound theological weight. His faithful offering stands as an early witness within the patriarchal line that culminates in Abraham and the Abrahamic covenant, and foreshadows the entire sacrificial system of the Old Testament that ultimately points to the Lamb of God. Though he left neither words nor descendants, Abel is remembered by God and listed among the heroes of faith, an enduring testimony to those who trust in the Lord.