I Chronicles 4:10 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 4:10 Commentary: Jabez's Prayer
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the prayer of Jabez in I Chronicles 4:10: its original context, Hebrew grammar, interpretive debates, and application.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jabez prays for blessing, expanded territory, God’s presence, and protection; God grants his request.
- Key words: H1288 bārak (bless), H1366 gĕbûl (border), H3027 yād (hand), H7451 ra‘ (evil), H6087 ʿāṣab (grieve).
- Main debate: Whether ‘enlarge my border’ refers to literal land acquisition or spiritual/missional influence.
- Theological theme: God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful; the connection between a person’s name (sorrow) and God’s redemptive work.
- Best use: Model for personal prayers that combine bold requests with humble dependence; also as a check against reducing prayer to a formula for prosperity.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted the request of Jabez.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border! May your hand be with me, and may you keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” God granted him that which he requested.
KJV King James Version 1769
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Jabez calleth to the God of Israel, saying, `If blessing Thou dost bless me, then Thou hast made great my border, and Thy hand hath been with me, and Thou hast kept me from evil--not to grieve me;' and God bringeth in that which he asked.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh that thou wouldest richly bless me, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God brought about what he had requested.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Jabes called upon the God of Israel, saying: If blessing thou wilt bless me, and wilt enlarge my borders, and thy hand be with me, and thou save me from being oppressed by evil. And God granted him the things he prayed for.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
E invocó Jabes al Dios de Israel, diciendo: ¡ Oh si me dieras bendición, y ensancharas mi término, y si tu mano fuera conmigo, y me libraras de mal, que no me dañe! E hizo Dios que le viniese lo que pidió.
Mas Jabez invocou ao Deus de Israel, dizendo: Ah, se tu me abençoares muito, e ampliares os meus limites, e se tua mão for comigo, e me protegeres do mal, para que eu não sofra! E Deus fez suceder o que ele havia pedido.
Jaebets invoqua le Dieu d’ Israël, en disant: Si tu me bénis et que tu étendes mes limites, si ta main est avec moi, et si tu me préserves du malheur, en sorte que je ne sois pas dans la souffrance!… Et Dieu accorda ce qu’ il avait demandé.
Und Jaebez rief den Gott Israels an und sprach: Ach, daß du mich segnetest und meine Grenze mehrtest und deine Hand mit mir wäre und schafftest mit dem Übel, daß mich's nicht bekümmere! Und Gott ließ kommen, was er bat.
Want Jabez riep den God Israels aan, zeggende: Indien Gij mij rijkelijk zegenen, en mijn landpale vermeerderen zult, en Uw hand met mij zijn zal, en met het kwade alzo maakt, dat het mij niet smarte! En God liet komen, wat hij begeerde.
Jabets invocò l’Iddio d’Israele, dicendo: “Oh se tu mi benedicessi e allargassi i miei confini, e se la tua mano fosse meco e se tu mi preservassi dal male in guisa ch’io non avessi da soffrire!” E Dio gli concedette quello che avea chiesto.
I wzywał Jabes Boga Izraelskiego, mówięc: Jeźli błogosławiąc błogosławić mi będziesz, a rozszerzysz granice moje, a będzie ręka twoja ze mną, a wybawisz mię od złego, abym utrapiony nie był. I wypełnił to Bóg, o co go prosił.
И воззвал Иавис к Богу Израилеву и сказал: о, если бы Ты благословил меня Твоим благословением, распространил пределы мои, и рука Твоя была со мною, охраняя меня от зла, чтобы я не горевал!.. И Бог ниспослал ему, чего он просил.
雅比斯 求告 以色列的 神 說：「甚願 你賜 福與我，擴張 我的境界， 常與我 同在，保佑 我不遭患難，不 受艱苦。」 神 就應允 他所 求的。
And Jabez made a prayer to the God of Israel, saying, If only you would truly give me a blessing, and make wider the limits of my land, and let your hand be with me, and keep me from evil, so that I may not be troubled by it! And God gave him his desire.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 4:10
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Jabez's prayer to the God of Israel is a model of faithful petition. Matthew Henry and Wesley interpret the requests for blessing and enlarged border in a material and territorial sense, suited to the conquest of Canaan. Gill emphasizes that Jabez prayed for spiritual blessings, covenant mercies, deliverance from sin, and divine protection. Cambridge Bible notes the conditional structure and sees a possible textual gap. Despite these differences, all acknowledge that God granted his request. The prayer reflects Israel's covenantal heritage and has been read as an example of bold, believing prayer. The central point of disagreement remains whether 'enlarge my border' refers to physical territory or expanded spiritual influence.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal territorial expansion: Context of Canaanite conquest, word gebul meaning border/territory, and parallels with Joshua's allotments.
- Spiritual growth and influence: Gill's emphasis on spiritual blessings, play on name (sorrow vs. pain from sin), and the broader biblical theme of faith and prayer.
What is clear: Jabez called on the God of Israel with a sincere prayer, and God granted his request. The specific nature of the enlargement is not explicitly defined in the text, leaving room for interpretation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'enlarge my border' | Jabez asked for increase in his domain or sphere of life. | Interpreters differ: some read it as a request for literal land (Wesley, Matthew Henry), others as a plea for spiritual growth and influence (Gill, many modern commentators). |
| Role of material blessing in prayer | Jabez prayed for tangible blessing and God answered. | Some see this as a promise of material prosperity for all believers; others caution against treating it as a formula, noting the unique covenantal setting of Israel's conquest. |
| Conditional structure of the prayer | The Hebrew begins with 'If' (im), suggesting a conditional vow similar to Jacob (Genesis 28:20). | Whether the condition is a request for God to act first or a vow promising future service in response to blessing. |
| Application for today | Jabez's prayer can inspire believers to pray boldly for God's blessing and protection. | The degree to which the specifics (land, borders) apply directly to contemporary Christian life rather than being read as metaphors for missional expansion. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The genealogies of 1 Chronicles 4 are part of the post-exilic chronicler's effort to reconnect the returning exiles with their tribal heritage. Judah's prominence reflects that tribe's survival and the hope of restoration. Within this list of names, the prayer of Jabez stands out as a narrative fragment, likely drawn from older oral tradition (Keil & Delitzsch). The verse echoes patriarchal patterns: conditional vows (Genesis 28:20) and plays on names (Genesis 29-30). Jabez's mother named him with a wordplay on 'sorrow' (עצב), giving the prayer its poignant hook: 'that it may not grieve me.'
The request for enlarged border (גבול) would have resonated with the post-exilic community, who received back a diminished territory and longed for its expansion. The phrase 'God of Israel' invokes the covenant name, linking Jabez to the patriarchs who built altars and called on Yahweh (Genesis 12:8; 33:20). The context of the settlement of Canaan is implicit: Wesley connects the prayer to the task of driving out Canaanites. The prayer also echoes the blessing of Joseph (Genesis 48:16) for deliverance from evil. Historically, Jabez's exact identity and era remain unknown, but the chronicler preserves his story as an example of honored faith. The cultural practice of naming shapes the entire petition: Jabez prays against the sorrow his name carries, inviting readers to see God as one who can reverse even the grief written into a person’s name.
Textual Notes
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes a possible lacuna in the Hebrew text after 'keep me from evil,' suggesting words like 'make room' or 'redeem' may have fallen out. However, the Masoretic Text is followed by all major translations, and no significant variants are present in the ancient versions. Most commentators treat the text as intact and interpret the prayer as it stands.
Reception History
Early Jewish interpretation likely treated the story as a local tradition preserved in the genealogies. Protestant commentators from the Reformation onward saw it as a model of prayer. In the 20th century, the verse gained widespread popularity through evangelical teaching, generating both enthusiastic adoption and critical responses. Orthodox and Catholic traditions have less focus on this verse, but it has been incorporated into devotional practices across denominations. The differing interpretations reflect broader debates about the relationship between faith and material reward.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The heart of Jabez: Honorable yet bearing a name of sorrow; he turns to God in prayer.
- The four petitions: Blessing (divine favor), enlarged border (increased responsibility or influence), God’s hand (presence and power), protection from evil (deliverance from harm).
- The outcome: God granted his request; the prayer was answered, showing that God hears the humble cry.
Five-point outline
- Calling on the God of Israel: Jabez directs his prayer to the covenant God, not to idols or ancestors.
- Bless me indeed: He asks for comprehensive blessing, using an emphatic Hebrew construction (infinitive absolute) to stress sincerity.
- Enlarge my border: This request looks toward expansion, whether land, influence, or opportunity.
- Your hand be with me: He does not trust his own strength but relies on God’s guiding and sustaining hand.
- Keep me from evil: He prays for protection from both external harm and internal sin, so that his name’s sorrow may be overcome.
Illustration hooks
- A small business owner prays for God to expand the company’s market. The request mirrors Jabez’s “enlarge my border” as a petition for greater reach and impact.
- A student asks for wisdom and influence in a new school year, praying that God’s hand would be with them in challenges.
- A family relocating to a new city prays for protection from unexpected evils, accidents, harmful relationships, or spiritual attacks.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it selfish to pray for God to enlarge my territory? Does that promote greed?
- If God granted Jabez’s request, why does He sometimes not grant ours for similar things?
- How can I discern whether my desire for expansion is from God or from my own ambition?
Leading a Discussion
This brief prayer embedded in a genealogy invites small groups to reflect on how we bring our whole selves, including our vulnerabilities and ambitions, to God. Jabez, bearing a name that means 'sorrow,' dares to ask for blessing, expansion, presence, and protection. His prayer challenges us to consider what we truly desire from God and how we express those desires.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What do the surrounding verses (1 Chronicles 4:9-11) tell us about Jabez’s background? Why might the chronicler have chosen to include this story?
- Observation: Identify the four parts of Jabez’s prayer. What does each request reveal about his relationship with God?
- Interpretation: How does the Hebrew construction 'bless indeed' (infinitive absolute) shape the force of the first request?
- Interpretation: The word for 'border' (gebûl) can mean territory or boundary. What is the strongest case for each interpretation, literal land or metaphorical influence?
- Interpretation: Why does Jabez pray against 'evil' (ra‘ah) in connection with the sorrow (ʿōṣeb) of his name? What does that suggest about the purpose of his prayer?
- Application: In what areas of life might you need to ask God to 'enlarge your border'? What would wise and God-honoring expansion look like for you?
- Application: How does the prayer for God’s hand to be with us change how we approach daily tasks and challenges?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 12:2 | I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. |
| Genesis 12:8 | He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on Yahweh’s name. |
| Genesis 32:26 | The man said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.” Jacob said, “I won’t let you go unless you bless me.” |
| Genesis 32:28 | He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.” |
| Genesis 33:20 | He erected an altar there, and called it El Elohe Israel. |
| Genesis 48:16 | the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.” |
| Joshua 17:14 | The children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me just one lot and one part for an inheritance, since we are a numerous people, because Yahweh has blessed us so far?” |
| Joshua 17:18 | but the hill country shall be yours. Although it is a forest, you shall cut it down, and it’s farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary notes a likely scribal error in the Hebrew text, with words having fallen out. The original prayer probably contained two parallel petitions: that God would make room for the supplicant and redeem him from evil. The final phrase about sorrow is better translated as "that it be not to my sorrow."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight that Jabez directed his prayer specifically to the God of Israel, presenting a precise list of requests: blessing, expanded territory, God's abiding presence, and protection from harm. The emphasis falls on the direct connection between Jabez's explicit petition and God's granting exactly what was asked.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets Jabez's prayer as a plea for spiritual rather than merely material blessings. He reads "bless me indeed" as a request for covenant mercies and "enlarge my coast" as a desire for spiritual growth and deliverance from sin. For Gill, the grief behind Jabez's name points to his longing to be kept from the evil that grieves a believer's spirit.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB observes that whatever specific concern drove Jabez to pray, God answered with remarkable prosperity. The commentator stresses that this example proves God does more than listen to prayers; He actively grants what is asked.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch notes the wordplay in the name Jabez, which means sorrow, and his prayer for freedom from pain. The commentator observes that God granted the request, so Jabez's life became a direct contradiction of his name—the son of sorrow was kept from pain and rose to greater honor than his brothers.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees this section as a supplement to the earlier genealogy of Judah, built from scattered fragments of old family records that lack clear connections between them. He describes these verses as a gathering of genealogical pebbles rolled together from various sources, held together only by their common link to the tribe of Judah.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
In a chapter filled with genealogical names, Henry singles out Jabez as the one person marked "more honourable." The commentator highlights that his mother named him from her sorrow, making his later prayer and God's granting of his request stand out as a bright exception in an otherwise dry family list.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes the man's prayer was offered while undertaking a dangerous task. He asked to be enlarged in territory and kept from grief, his name's meaning. God answered by prospering him remarkably in all his work, study, business and battles against the Canaanites.