Genesis 4:20-21

4:20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first ¹  of those who live in tents and keep ²  livestock. 4:21 The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute.

Genesis 10:21

10:21 And sons were also born ³  to Shem (the older brother of Japheth), ⁴  the father of all the sons of Eber.

[4:20]  ¹ tn Heb “father.” In this passage the word “father” means “founder,” referring to the first to establish such lifestyles and occupations.

[4:20]  ² tn The word “keep” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation. Other words that might be supplied instead are “tend,” “raise” (NIV), or “have” (NRSV).

[10:21]  ³ tn Heb “And to Shem was born.”

[10:21]  ⁴ tn Or “whose older brother was Japheth.” Some translations render Japheth as the older brother, understanding the adjective הַגָּדוֹל (haggadol, “older”) as modifying Japheth. However, in Hebrew when a masculine singular definite attributive adjective follows the sequence masculine singular construct noun + proper name, the adjective invariably modifies the noun in construct, not the proper name. Such is the case here. See Deut 11:7; Judg 1:13; 2:7; 3:9; 9:5; 2 Kgs 15:35; 2 Chr 27:3; Neh 3:30; Jer 13:9; 36:10; Ezek 10:19; 11:1.