Son of the Cainite Lamech by Zillah (Ge 4:22), "a whetter of every cutting instrument in bronze and iron." Flint, wood, and bone were probably before this used for implements of husbandry, arts, and war; so uncivilized nations now. (See CIVILIZATION.) Nations degenerating into barbarism fall back on a flint age, then progress to bronze (in S. America gold) and iron successively. The Scythian race, Tubal, being coppersmiths (Eze 27:13), seem related to the name. "Vulcan" may come from it. The Arabic kain is "a smith." (See TUBAL.)

Tu'bal-cain,

the son of Lamech the Cainite by his wife Zillah,

Ge 4:22

(B.C. about 3000.) He is called "a furbisher of every cutting instrument of copper and iron."