The Prayer of Jabez

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

"Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name
Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' 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" (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Who was Jabez? There is
no mention of him anywhere else in the scriptures. From the context, it does appear that
he was of the tribe of Judah, and some think that he was a son of Koz (cf. v. 8). There
are other theories as to who and what he was, but our purpose here is simply to see
what lessons we can learn fromthis passage of scripture.
First, consider the attitude of Jabez. He was honorable. Why he was more honorable
than his brothers we are not told, but it may have to do with the nature of his prayer.
There are two characteristics that are needed for one to be honorable in prayer. One of
them is being earnest, which means intense, zealous, sincere, and determined. We are
told that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).
The second of these characteristics is humility. "Therefore humble yourselves under the
mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him,
for He cares for you" (1 Peter5:6-7). The earnest, fervent prayer that is prayed in true
humility ishonorable before God.
Another aspect of the attitude of Jabez is that he directed his prayer to God. Because
we are to worship the Lord our God and serve Him alone, Jesus taught us to address
our prayers, saying, "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 4:10,
6:9). To direct such a prayer to God demonstrates that one is trusting in and thus
dependent on Him for everything that is needed. "Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God" (Philippians 4:6).
Second, consider the character of Jabez's petition. He requested a personal blessing.
To ask God's blessing is to ask Him to bestow divine favor. There is nothing wrong with
requesting God to bless us specifically. The Psalmist did. He prayed, "Save Your
people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever"
(Psalm 28:9). Jabez also asked God to enlarge his borders. This seems to relate to
material prosperity. Thus, it is certainly scriptural for us to pray that God will bless us
materially (note Matthew 6:11). However, the Bible offers no "quid pro quo" promise that
if we do certain specified things for God then He will materially prosper us a certain

specified amount, as some who hold the "Abundant Life--Health and Wealth" gospel
teach. Rather, the Lord has simply said that if we serve Him faithfully, He will provide for
us (Matthew 6:33).
Then Jabez beseeched that God's hand would be with Him, no doubt to provide
protection and guidance. Should we not pray with the Psalmist, "Lead me in Your truth
and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day" (Psalm
25:5)? Finally, Jabez expressed a petition that God would keep Him from evil. Jesus
also indicated that His disciples should pray for God's preservation and deliverance, as
He taught them to say, "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one" (Matthew 6:13). Of course, God's protection, guidance, preservation, and
deliverance are all provided for us through the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The reason why Jabez thus prayed was so that He might not cause pain. One
commentator expressed it this way: "Let me not experience the grief which my name
implies, and which my sins would well produce." Another phrased it, "Grant that the grief
implied in my name may not come upon me!" And likewise, it should be our prayer, "I
cling to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame!" (Psalm 119:31). Finally,
consider the response of God, who granted Him what he requested. The Lord has
promised us, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will
be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him
who knocksit will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8). God has said that He will hear and
respond to the prayers of His people. Oh, He may not always give us what we ask for,
when we ask for it, in exactly the way that we asked. But He is the source of every good
and perfect gift (James 1:17). Therefore, we can trust Him to answer our prayers by
providing what He knows best that we need in harmony with His will, just as He did with
the prayer of Jabez.
By Wayne S. Walker
From Expository Files 8.11; November 2001