Abel

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(breath, vapor). Second son of Adam and Eve. A keeper of sheep, and murdered by his brother Cain through jealousy (Gen. 4:2-82And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. (Genesis 4:2‑8)). See also (Heb. 11:44By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4); 1 John 3:1212Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (1 John 3:12); a righteous man, Matt. 23:3535That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (Matthew 23:35)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

The second Son of Adam. The name Hebel given him by his mother, signifying breath “or vanity,” possibly originated in her disappointment at Cain not proving to be the promised Redeemer. In process of time the great difference in the two brothers was manifested by Abel offering to God a slain animal, while Cain brought the fruit of his own labor from the cursed ground, ignoring the facts that in the fall of Adam life had been forfeited and the ground cursed. Abel presented a sacrifice in the way of faith through a slain firstling of the flock (Heb. 11:44By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4)). He thus obtained a witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts (compare Matt. 23:3535That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (Matthew 23:35)). Thus early were brought out in clear lines the two seeds: one born of God, and the other of that “wicked one” (1 John 3:1212Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (1 John 3:12)). Abel is a type of Christ, as Cain is that of the Jew. As the Jews broke the law against both God and their neighbor, so Cain disregarded God’s judgment on man, and slew his brother. In Cain is also exemplified the religion of the natural man, who, disregarding his distance from God, thinks he can approach at any time and with any form of worship.

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:
6 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)
Greek:
Ἄβελ
Transliteration:
Abel
Phonic:
ab’-el
Meaning:
of Hebrew origin (1893); Abel, the son of Adam
KJV Usage:
Abel

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

vanity (i.e., transitory) : mourning, or a meadow

Related Books and Articles:

Cain and Abel: Genesis 4:1-8
Sketches of Scripture Characters: Abel