Who was Obal in the Bible?

Obal was a son of Joktan and a descendant of Shem, Noah's son. He is listed in the Table of Nations in Genesis, which traces the spread of humanity after the flood (Genesis 10:28).

Why is Obal mentioned in the Bible?

Obal's mention establishes a genealogical link, showing the fulfillment of God's command to Noah's sons to be fruitful and fill the earth. His inclusion helps trace the lineage of the Semitic peoples.

Are there any stories about Obal's life?

No, the Bible does not record any specific events or stories from Obal's life. He is only mentioned by name in the genealogical list found in Genesis 10:28 and 1 Chronicles 1:22.

Obal

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Obal was one of the sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem, mentioned in the Table of Nations.

Obal

Biography

Obal appears in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:28 as one of the thirteen sons of Joktan, who was a descendant of Shem through Eber. The name also appears in the variant form Ebal in 1 Chronicles 1:22. Joktan's descendants are generally associated with the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula, and Obal likely represents the ancestor of a specific Arabian tribe or settlement, though the precise identification remains uncertain among scholars. As part of the Shemite branch of Noah's descendants, Obal belongs to the genealogical framework through which the biblical narrative traces the origins of the world's diverse peoples following the flood. His inclusion in the Table of Nations places him within the broader context of humanity's divinely ordained spread across the earth in fulfillment of God's command to fill the earth.

Significance

Obal's listing in the Table of Nations carries theological significance as part of Genesis's comprehensive vision of humanity's origins from a single source under God's sovereign plan. The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 is not merely an ethnographic catalog but a theological statement that all peoples descend from Noah and ultimately bear the image of God. Obal's placement within the Shemite line connects him to the lineage through which Abraham and eventually the Messiah would come, though his own branch represents the diversification of Shem's descendants into non-Israelite peoples. This demonstrates that God's providential concern extends to all nations, even as He narrows His covenantal focus through the Abrahamic line.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherJoktan

Verse Appearances (2)

Genesis

Genesis 10:28

1Chr

1Chr 1:22

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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