Kungatiden
Jabez's Prayer and God's Answer
Jabez, who was more honored than his brothers, was named so because his mother gave birth to him in pain. He called on the God of Israel and asked for blessing, expansion of his territory, God's hand with him, and protection from evil and pain. God granted what he asked.
Första Krönikeboken 4,9-10
9Jabez was more honored than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain."[^1]
[^1]: The name Jabez echoes the Hebrew word for pain or sorrow.
וַיְהִ֣י יַעְבֵּ֔ץ נִכְבָּ֖ד מֵאֶחָ֑יו וְאִמּ֗וֹ קָרְאָ֨ה שְׁמ֤וֹ יַעְבֵּץ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כִּ֥י יָלַ֖דְתִּי בְּעֹֽצֶב׃
10Jabez called on the God of Israel: "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 harm, so that I suffer no pain." And God granted what he asked.
וַיִּקְרָ֣א יַ֠עְבֵּץ לֵאלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־בָּרֵ֨ךְ תְּבָרֲכֵ֜נִי וְהִרְבִּ֤יתָ אֶת־גְּבוּלִי֙ וְהָיְתָ֤ה יָדְךָ֙ עִמִּ֔י וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ מֵּרָעָ֖ה לְבִלְתִּ֣י עָצְבִּ֑י וַיָּבֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁאָֽל׃