Who is Jabez in this passage and why is he called more honourable?

Jabez appears in the middle of the family records of Judah. His mother named him Jabez, which sounds like “sorrow,” because his birth was hard for her. But his life is not marked by sorrow. He is called more honourable than his brothers because he turned to the God of Israel in earnest prayer. He asked God to truly bless him, to enlarge his territory, to keep his hand with him, and to guard him from evil so that he would not cause or suffer pain. God heard and granted his request, marking him out as a man of faith.

What is the meaning of Jabez’s prayer to enlarge his coast?

When Jabez asks God to “enlarge my coast,” he is asking for increase and room to grow. In his time, that likely meant more land and opportunity for his family and work. It also reflects a desire for God to grow his life under God’s care, not by his own strength. He joins this with asking for God’s hand to be with him and to be kept from evil. So he is not just chasing gain, but wants God’s blessing, guidance, and protection over any increase he receives.

Why are long genealogies of Judah and Simeon included here?

These long lists of names show that God cares about families, history, and promises passed down. Judah’s line is important because many key leaders come from this tribe. Simeon’s families are also recorded, even though they were less prominent, showing that God did not forget them. The lists trace who belonged where, which towns they lived in, and how God kept them through the years. They also remind later readers that God’s covenant kindness runs through ordinary people, households, and even through times of growth and decline.

What is the significance of the craftsmen and potters mentioned in this chapter?

The passage notes families who were craftsmen, potters, and people who worked with fine linen and lived near plants and hedges, serving the king. This shows that everyday work and skill were part of God’s plan for his people, not something low or unimportant. These workers had a place in the community and before God, just as much as soldiers or leaders. By naming them, the text honours their roles and reminds us that practical trades and quiet, steady work can also be service to God and a blessing to others.

What do the movements of Simeon’s descendants in Hezekiah’s days show?

Later in the passage, some from Simeon go to the entrance of Gedor and then to mount Seir to look for pasture for their flocks. They find land that is wide, quiet, and peaceful. In the days of King Hezekiah, they attack those living in tents there, including remaining Amalekites, and live in those places because the land is good for their animals. This shows how much they depended on God’s provision of land and pasture, and it also recalls God’s earlier commands about enemies like the Amalekites who had opposed Israel.

How does God’s answer to Jabez’s prayer encourage believers today?

God’s simple response, “God granted him that which he requested,” shows that God listens when people humbly call on him. Jabez did not come with a proud spirit but with a heart that knew he needed God’s blessing, guidance, and protection from evil. His name started with sorrow, yet through prayer his story is marked by honour and God’s favour. This can encourage believers to bring their needs and fears to God honestly, asking both for blessing and for a heart that stays close to God in whatever increase he gives.

What does this passage teach about God’s view of family history and legacy?

The many names and family lines show that family history matters to God. He keeps track of households, not just famous leaders. The text notes both well-known places like Bethlehem and lesser-known villages, both honoured people like Jabez and large families like Shimei’s. It also shows that families can grow, shrink, move, and even go to war over time, yet they remain within God’s sight. This reminds readers that their own family story, with its joys and troubles, also fits within God’s long, patient work across generations.

Why does the passage say, “These are ancient things”?

When it says, “These are ancient things,” it is looking back on the history just described, such as rulers in Moab, craftsmen, and people who lived with the king for his work. It marks these notes as old records that reach far into the past. This helps the reader see that the events and families listed were already long established at the time of writing. It underlines how far back God’s care and ordering of these tribes go, stretching beyond the current generation into deep, remembered history.

1Chr.4.1

1 Chronicles 4:1

KJV

The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.

The Descendants of Judah

1 The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.

2 And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.

3 And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:

4 And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Beth-lehem.

5 ¶ And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

6 And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.

7 And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.

8 And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.

The Prayer of Jabez

9 ¶ And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

10 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.

More Descendants of Judah

11 ¶ And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.

12 And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Rechah.

13 And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.

14 And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.

15 And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.

16 And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.

17 And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.

18 And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.

19 And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.

20 And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Ben-zoheth.

21 ¶ The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,

22 And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And these are ancient things.

23 These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.

The Descendants of Simeon

24 ¶ The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:

25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.

26 And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.

27 And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.

28 And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual,

29 And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,

30 And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,

31 And at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.

32 And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:

33 And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.

34 And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,

35 And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,

36 And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,

37 And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;

38 These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.

39 ¶ And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.

40 And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.

41 And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because there was pasture there for their flocks.

42 And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.

43 And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.