Holy Bible Online 
Jabez was a man of faith, described briefly but powerfully in the Bible. He stood out for his confidence in offering a sincere prayer to God—and having it answered. The story of Jabez appears in the middle of a long list of descendants from the tribe of Judah, one of the leading princes of Israel.
Jabez’s name carried a sorrowful meaning. Jabez (or Jabes) means "sorrow" or "pain." His mother gave him that name because she had suffered greatly during childbirth. In Hebrew, the name Jabez sounds similar to the word for “distress” or “pain.” From birth, Jabez lived with that reminder of hardship, as his name reflected the anguish surrounding the beginning of his life.
However, Jabez’s painful past did not determine his future. Despite bearing a sorrowful name, Jabez grew up to be an honorable man. He stood out among all his brothers. This was likely because Jabez had a deep desire to be blessed by God and to live a better life.
At a certain point, Jabez offered a very sincere prayer to the Lord. He asked God to bless him in a special way and to always remain with him. Jabez also prayed for the borders of his land to be enlarged and for protection from all evil. He pleaded with God to spare him from pain and suffering.
Lovingly, God heard Jabez’s prayer and granted everything he asked for. The people around him recognized God’s blessings on his life. Because of this, Jabez left behind an important legacy about the power of trusting in God and seeking Him in prayer.
The Prayer of Jabez and His Four Requests
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
- 1 Chronicles 4:10
In his prayer, Jabez made four requests to God. Let’s look at each of them:
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“Oh, bless me and enlarge my territory!”
Jabez asked God to bless his life and expand his territory. With this request, Jabez showed that he recognized God as the source of success and growth. He believed that divine grace could grant him a prosperous and abundant life. This teaches us about trusting the one true God who can give us a life of abundance. -
“Let Your hand be with me”
Jabez wanted God to be with him in everything he did. God’s hand represents dependence on the Lord for every step of life’s journey. He knew that with God’s presence, help, and protection, he would be sustained and safe. Jabez saw God’s presence and power as essential for guidance and protection. -
“Keep me from harm”
Jabez asked God to protect him from danger, evil, and temptations that could lead him away from God’s path. This request reflects complete trust in the protection and security that only God can provide. -
“So that I will be free from pain”
Finally, Jabez prayed to be spared from pain. Likely reflecting on his own story and the meaning of his name, Jabez longed to be kept from suffering. He trusted that God could change life’s circumstances, turning pain into peace and granting a future filled with hope.
The prayer of Jabez teaches us to seek God’s presence, blessing, protection, and direction in every part of life. It shows us that if we trust the Lord and depend on Him fully, we can experience His amazing grace, care, and provision.
What We Learn from Jabez’s Story
The story of Jabez shows that even if our past has been marked by pain, God is powerful enough to transform our lives when we trust Him. Despite being called “pain” throughout his life, Jabez didn’t let that define him. He trusted God and prayed for His blessing—and the Lord answered and remained with him.
Reflecting on this brief but powerful story (1 Chronicles 4:9–10), we are reminded that trust in the Lord can bring our prayers to life. As James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Like Jabez, we should leave the past behind and move forward, praying with faith and believing that God can do far more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20–21).
When we seek God with trust and depend on His mercy and guidance, we receive countless blessings. The Lord deeply loves us and cares for us. He can change our story—turning a past of pain into a present filled with peace, abundance, and joy in His precious presence.
Trust in the Lord! Even if your journey begins in sorrow, like Jabez’s, or you walk through hard seasons, God can transform your circumstances and turn everything for good!
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