תּוּבַל
𐤕𐤅𐤁𐤋
Tuval
H8422 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating (1) an individual—Tubal, a descendant of Japheth mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis and 1 Chronicles, and (2) the people or territory linked to his descendants, appearing elsewhere in prophetic literature as a distant nation. While sometimes paralleled with Meshech, Tubal is referenced as an inhabitant of distant lands, often associated with trade in metal goods. The name's semantic range thus extends from an ancestral figure to a distant people group engaged in commerce with Israelite kingdoms.
Semantic Range
personal name (ancestor, son of Japheth), people group (descendants of Tubal), distant land or nation, trading partner (notably in metals), non-Israelite/foreign nation
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. The form is apparently of non-Semitic (likely Anatolian or Indo-European) origin, not directly related to Hebrew roots. It appears as a proper noun, unrelated to underlying verbal or nominal bases in biblical Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Genesis 10:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:5, Tubal is listed as a son of Japheth, representing a group north of Israel's heartland. In prophetic books, notably Ezekiel (27:13; 32:26; 38:2–3; 39:1), Tubal appears along with Meshech as a nation to the north, engaged in trade, especially in metal (bronze) goods, possibly reflecting historical contacts with peoples in Anatolia (ancient Tabal). The identification with postdiluvian patriarchs recasts geographical or ethnolinguistic groups as descendants of Noah's sons. English translations often render Tubal as a personal name, but in prophetic contexts it refers to a people or region. The LXX sometimes brings Tubal together with Meshech (Μοσοχ καὶ Θοβέλ), highlighting ethnic/geographic linkage rather than individual identity. Later translations (including early modern English Bibles) sometimes transliterate, sometimes adapt the name to the context ('Tubal,' 'the men of Tubal'). Unlike related names, Tubal is never used to refer to Israelites, Judahites, or Judeans; the term consistently refers to an external nation or people.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or תֻּבַל; probably of foreign derivation; Tubal, a postdiluvian patriarch and his posterity; Tubal.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תובל (t-w-b-l (uncertain)) — uncertain; proper name, ethnic designation
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8422-02 |
וְ/תֻבָ֑ל | vetuval | HC/Np |
and Tubal | and Tubal | 5 |
H8422-01 |
תֻּבַ֣ל | tuval | HNp |
Tubal | Tubal | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8422-02 |
Genesis 10:2 | וְ/תֻבָ֑ל | vetuval | HC/Np |
and Tubal | and Tubal |
H8422-01 |
Isaiah 66:19 | תֻּבַ֣ל | tuval | HNp |
Tubal | Tubal |
H8422-01 |
Ezekiel 27:13 | תֻּבַל֙ | tuval | HNp |
Tubal | Tubal |
H8422-01 |
Ezekiel 32:26 | תֻּבַל֙ | tuval | HNp |
Tubal | Tubal |
H8422-02 |
Ezekiel 38:2 | וְ/תֻבָ֑ל | vetuval | HC/Np |
and Tubal | and Tubal |
H8422-02 |
Ezekiel 38:3 | וְ/תֻבָֽל | vetuval | HC/Np |
and-Tubal | and Tubal |
H8422-02 |
Ezekiel 39:1 | וְ/תֻבָֽל | vetuval | HC/Np |
and Tubal | and Tubal |
H8422-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:5 | וְ/תֻבָ֑ל | vetuval | HC/Np |
and Tubal | and Tubal |