King James Bible
"And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle."
This introduces Jabal as the son of Lamech and his wife Adah, continuing the genealogy of Cain's line. The naming pattern follows the typical Hebrew genealogical formula, establishing Jabal's place in the early human generations. Jabal is credited as the originator of nomadic lifestyle, pioneering the practice of living in portable dwellings. This marks a significant cultural development as humanity diversified from settled agriculture into mobile pastoralism. The text links tent-dwelling with livestock herding, indicating Jabal founded the pastoral economy that would become central to ancient Near Eastern life. This combination of mobility and animal husbandry represents one of civilization's foundational occupations.