1 Chronicles 4:10
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.

English Standard Version
Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

New American Standard Bible
Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would greatly bless me and extend my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm so that it would not hurt me!” And God brought about what he requested.

NASB 1995
Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.

NASB 1977
Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that Thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldst keep me from harm, that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God brought about what he asked.

Amplified Bible
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border [property], and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request.

Christian Standard Bible
Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only you would bless me, extend my border, let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not experience pain.” And God granted his request.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jabez called out to the God of Israel: “If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not cause any pain.” And God granted his request.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he said to him: “Blessing, LORD JEHOVAH will bless you, and he shall multiply your border, and his hand shall be with you, and he shall save you from the Evil One that he will not have power over you, and he will give you whatever you ask him.”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Igabes called on the God of Israel, saying, O that thou wouldest indeed bless me, and enlarge my coasts, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest make me know that thou wilt not grieve me! And God granted him all that he asked.

Contemporary English Version
One day he prayed to Israel's God, "Please bless me and give me a lot of land. Be with me so I will be safe from harm." And God did just what Jabez had asked.

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

English Revised Version
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thine 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, "Please bless me and give me more territory. May your power be with me and free me from evil so that I will not be in pain." God gave him what he prayed for.

Good News Translation
But Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, "Bless me, God, and give me much land. Be with me and keep me from anything evil that might cause me pain." And God gave him what he prayed for.

International Standard Version
Later on, Jabez called on the God of Israel, asking him, "…whether you would bless me again and again, enlarge my territory, keep your power with me, keep me from evil, and keep me from harm!" And God granted what he had requested.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 work deliverance from evil, that it may not pain me!' And God granted him that which he requested.

Literal Standard Version
And Jabez calls to the God of Israel, saying, “If blessing You bless me, then You have made my border great, and Your hand has been with me, and You have kept [me] from evil—not to grieve me”; and God brings in that which he asked.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: “Oh, that you may truly bless me and extend my boundaries! May your hand be with me and make me free of misfortune, without pain!” And God granted his prayer.

NET Bible
Jabez called out to the God of Israel, "If only you would greatly bless me and expand my territory! May your hand be with me! Keep me from harm so I might not endure pain!" God answered his prayer.

New Revised Standard Version
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!” And God granted what he asked.

New Heart English Bible
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, so that it might not cause me pain." And God granted him that which he requested.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Prayer of Jabez
9Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10And 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.

Cross References
1 Chronicles 4:9
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain."

1 Chronicles 4:11
Chelub the brother of Shuhah was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

called.

1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Genesis 12:8
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

Job 12:4
I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

the God.

Genesis 32:28
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Genesis 33:20
And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.

1 Samuel 1:17
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

Oh that, etc.

Luke 19:42
Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

bless me.

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Genesis 32:26
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Psalm 72:17
His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

enlarge.

Joshua 17:14-18
And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto? …

Judges 1:27-36
Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land…

Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

thine hand.

Psalm 119:173
Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

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Bless Blessing Border Coast Cried Deliverance Enlarge Evil Granted Grieve Hand Harm Hurt Indeed Israel Jabez Pain Requested Sorrow Territory Wider Work Wouldest
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1 Chronicles 4
1. The posterity of Judah by Caleb, the son of Hur.
5. Of Ashur, the posthumous son Hezron.
9. Of Jabez, and his prayer.
11. The other families of the same stock.
21. The sons of Shelah.
24. The posterity and cities of Simeon.
39. Their conquest of Gedor, and of the Amalekites in mount Seir.














(10) Jabez called on the God of Israel.--Comp. Jacob's vow at Bethel, Genesis 28:20-22, and his altar, El-'elohe Israel, "El is the God of Israel," Genesis 33:20. Some have supposed that the peculiar phrase, "God of Israel," indicates that the original Canaanite population of Jabez proselytised.

Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed.--Literally, "if indeed thou wilt bless me."

My coast.--My border or domain (fines).

And that thine hand.--Rather, and if thine hand will be with me, and thou wilt deal without (Heb. away from) evil, that I suffer not !--The prayer is expressed in the form of a condition, with the consequence ("then will I serve thee," comp. Genesis 28:22) suppressed.

The name Jabez is twice explained; in 1Chronicles 4:9 it is made to mean "he paineth," in 1Chronicles 4:10 Jabez prays to be saved from pain. Comp. the frequent allusions in the book of Gen. to the meaning of the name Isaac (Yichaq, "he laugheth"); Genesis 17:17, Abraham's daughter; 1Chronicles 18:12, Sarah's incredulous laughter; 1Chronicles 21:6, Sarah's joy at the birth; 1Chronicles 26:8, Isaac's own mirth. These features of likeness to the language and thought of Genesis, prove the originality and antiquity of the section. . . .

Verse 10. - When Jabez grew to manhood he has learnt to estimate rightly the value of God's blessing. He invokes it, and depends upon it. His language implies the confidence that he had in the reality of providential blessing. For the expression, enlarge my coast, see Deuteronomy 12:20; Deuteronomy 19:8; and though we know nothing as matter of fact about the occasion of this prayer, we may assume that it was one when not selfishness and greed of larger territory, but just opportunity, had awakened a strong desire for enlargement of borders. It may have been a legitimate occasion of recovering his own, lost or wrongfully taken from him or his predecessors before him, or of expelling successfully from their hold upon it a portion of the original inhabitants of the promised land of God's people. That thine hand might be with me. Many are the beautiful parallels to be culled from the Word of God for this expression, as e.g. Ezra 7:9; Psalm 80:17; Psalm 119:173; Psalm 139:5, 10; Isaiah 42:6. And that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! This, the last entreaty of the prayer, is the largest and most far-seeing. Warned by his own name, forewarned by his mother's emphasizing of her own pains in him, he thus concludes. Having begun in the evil of pain and excessive sorrow, he prays that he and his career may not so determine and end. He does not necessarily pray to be preserved from all suffering, but from such baneful touch of evil itself, its principle, its tyrannous, merciless hold, as might bring him to real and irreparable grief. Thus closes the whole prayer, each succeeding clause of which has been under the rule of the initial "if," translated with us, Oh that. This well-known Hebrew form of prayer supposes a solemn engagement, and that the answered prayer shall meet with the fulfilment of a vowed promise on the part of the suppliant, according to the pattern of Genesis 28:20. In the absence of that engagement here, we may notice, with Keil, the greater grace of the passage, in that it closes with the statement of the readiness to hear, and the abounding readiness to answer, on the part of Divine beneficence: And God granted him that which he requested. Evidently the thing that he asked pleased the Lord (1 Kings 3:10, 12); although it was in this case some form of riches, and long life for self, and the life of his enemies, that he asked, and was not altogether and in so many words "a wise and understanding heart." Perhaps, also there was in the way of asking, and in the exact occasion, unknown to us, something which quite justified the matter of the prayer, and which thus pleased the Lord. The remarkable and arresting episode could not have closed in more welcome or impressive way than when it is thus briefly but conclusively said, "And God granted him that which he requested."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Jabez
יַ֠עְבֵּץ (ya‘·bêṣ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3258: Jabez -- a descendant of Judah, also a place in Judah

called out
וַיִּקְרָ֣א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

to the God
לֵאלֹהֵ֨י (lê·lō·hê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

“If only
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

You would bless me
בָּרֵ֨ךְ (bā·rêḵ)
Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

and enlarge
וְהִרְבִּ֤יתָ (wə·hir·bî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

my territory!
גְּבוּלִי֙ (gə·ḇū·lî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

May Your hand
יָדְךָ֙ (yā·ḏə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

be
וְהָיְתָ֤ה (wə·hā·yə·ṯāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

with me
עִמִּ֔י (‘im·mî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

and keep me
וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ (wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

from harm,
מֵּרָעָ֖ה (mê·rā·‘āh)
Preposition-m | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

so that I will be free
לְבִלְתִּ֣י (lə·ḇil·tî)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

from pain.”
עָצְבִּ֑י (‘ā·ṣə·bî)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6087: To carve, fabricate, fashion, to worry, pain, anger

And God
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

granted
וַיָּבֵ֥א (way·yā·ḇê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the request
שָׁאָֽל׃ (šā·’āl)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

of [Jabez].
אֵ֥ת (’êṯ)
Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez called on the God of Israel (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 4:9
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