Abel

Abel is a figure in the Hebrew Bible, the second son of Adam and Eve. He was a shepherd who offered the firstborn of his flock as a sacrifice to God, and God looked with favor on Abel and his offering, while Cain's offering was not favored. In jealousy, Cain killed Abel, making Abel's death the first recorded murder in the biblical narrative. God confronted Cain and punished him, and Abel's blood is described as crying out to God from the ground.

Abel is regarded in Jewish and Christian traditions as a righteous victim and a model of faith. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the blood of Abel as an example of innocent bloodshed. In Islamic tradition, the story appears with the brothers Habil and Qabil, with a similar theme of jealousy and divine judgment. Abel's figure is used to discuss themes of sacrifice, jealousy, and justice.

In mathematics, Abel refers to Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829), a Norwegian mathematician whose work laid foundations for modern algebra. He proved that the general quintic equation is not solvable by radicals, a result that influenced later Galois theory. The concept of Abelian groups and other structures is named after him, and the Abel Prize, established in 2002, is awarded for outstanding contributions to mathematics.

The name Abel appears as a given name and surname in many cultures. It derives from the Hebrew Hevel, often translated as breath, vanity, or vapor, depending on context. The biblical Abel remains the most prominent historical bearer of the name, with broader use in literature, film, and science.