Genesis 4:21

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יוּבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י כָּל־תֹּפֵ֥שׂ כִּנּ֖וֹר וְעוּגָֽב׃

Transliteration

And-name-of his-brother Yubal he hayah ʾabi all-tofes kinnor and-ʿugab

Grammar Details

• *we-shem*: conjunction + noun, masculine singular construct - and name of
• *ʾaḥiw*: noun, masculine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his brother
• *Yubal*: proper noun, masculine singular - Jubal
• *huʾ*: 3rd masculine singular personal pronoun - he
• *hayah*: qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - was
• *ʾabi*: noun, masculine singular construct - father of
• *kol*: noun, masculine singular construct - all
• *tofes*: qal participle, masculine singular construct - handler of/player of
• *kinnor*: noun, masculine singular - lyre/harp
• *we-ʿugab*: conjunction + noun, masculine singular - and pipe/flute

Word Meanings

• *ʾabi*: father of/founder of/originator of
• *tofes kinnor we-ʿugab*: those who play the lyre and pipe/string and wind instrument players
• *kinnor*: lyre/harp/stringed instrument
• *ʿugab*: pipe/flute/wind instrument

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all who play the harp and organ.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And hys brothers name was Iubal: of hym came all that excercyse them selves on the harpe and on the organs

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And his brothers name was Iuball: Of him came they that occupied harpes & pypes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And his brothers name was Iubal, who was the father of all that play on the harpe and organes.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  His brothers name was Iubal, which was the father of such as handle Harpe and Organ.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And his brother's name [was] Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  His brother's name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and the name of his brother `is' Jubal, he hath been father of every one handling harp and organ.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all players on instruments of music.

• World English Bible (2000)

  His brother's name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 31:27 : 27 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me? You didn’t even let me know so I could send you away with joy and singing, to the music of tambourines and harps.
• Job 21:12 : 12 They sing to the tambourine and lyre and rejoice to the sound of the flute.
• Isa 5:12 : 12 They have harps and lyres, tambourines and flutes, and wine at their banquets, but they pay no attention to the deeds of the Lord or consider the work of His hands.
• Amos 6:5 : 5 You strum away on your harps like David and fashion instruments for music.
• Rom 4:11-12 : 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness might also be credited to them, 12 and to be the father of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.