A central biblical-derived myth traces Basque (and broader Iberian) ancestry to Tubal, a grandson of Noah.
Tubal appears in the Bible’s Table of Nations (Genesis 10) as a son of Japheth.
Japheth then assigned regions to his sons—e.g., Magog to Scandinavia (linked to the Goths), Javan to Greece, and Tubal to the Iberian Peninsula, including the Pyrenees.
Early sources like Flavius Josephus (1st century CE) connected Tubal to the “Thobelites” (called Iberes in his time), though it’s unclear if this referred to Spanish Iberians or Caucasian ones.
By the 4th–7th centuries, writers like Saint Jerome and Isidore of Seville firmly linked Tubal to the Iberians/Spaniards.
Tubal-Cain: Forger of tools from bronze and iron.
We are told that the sons of Japheth were Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
Barzel or tubal, - iron.
iv., 17); his descendant, Tubal-cain, was the first metallurgist (chap.
Magog, Gomer, Ashkenaz, Tubal, Meshech: Various tribes descended from Japheth, mentioned in prophetic literature, possibly referring to peoples in Anatolia or beyond.
19 “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.
19 "And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the distant islands that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the nations."
Text: "I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.
"I will set a sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory.
Source: The Bible, Genesis 4:22: "And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron."
iv., 17); his descendant, Tubal-cain, was the first metallurgist (chap.
In the 2014 film Noah, Lamech (played by Marton Csokas) passes a serpent skin relic to Noah before being killed by Tubal-cain.
He is the first polygamist in the Bible, married to Adah and Zillah, and father to Jabal (originator of tent-dwelling and livestock breeding), Jubal (musicians), Tubal-Cain (metalworkers), and Naamah.
18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.
Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words.
[1] Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.[2] The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.[3] And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.[4] And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.[5] By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.[6] And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.[7] And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.[8] And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.[9] He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.[10] And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.[11] Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,[12] And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.[13] And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,[14] And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.[15] And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,[16] And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,[17] And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,[18] And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.[19] And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.[20] These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.[21] Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.[22] The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.[23] And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.[24] And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.[25] And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.[26] And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazar-maveth, and Jerah,[27] And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,[28] And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,[29] And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.[30] And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.[31] These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.[32] These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.
Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.