Bible Dictionary
Jabez
Jabez was a Judahite whose mother named him for the sorrow associated with his birth. He prayed that God would bless and protect him, and God granted his request; Jabez was also the name of a place inhabited by scribes.
Definition
Jabez was a Judahite noted for his honorable character and for the prayer associated with his name. His mother named him Jabez, meaning “sorrow,” because she bore him with sorrow. The name also designates an unidentified place inhabited by families of scribes.
Biblical Usage
Jabez prayed that God would bless him, enlarge his border, keep him from evil, and prevent sorrow. God granted his request. The place called Jabez is associated with scribes in Judah.
Historical Background
The personal name involves a play on the meaning “sorrow,” while the location called Jabez cannot be identified from the supplied material.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Affiction. (1.) A descendant of Judah, of whom it is recorded that “God granted him that which he requested” (1 Chr. 4:9, 10). (2.) A place inhabited by several families of the scribes (1 Chr. 2:55).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(sorrow).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ja'-bez (ya`bets, "sorrow" ("height)):</p><p>(1) Place: An unidentified town probably in the territory of Judah, occupied by scribes (1Ch 2:55). For an ingenious reconstruction of the passage see EB, under the word</p><p>(2) Person: The head of a family of Judah, noted for his "honorable" character, though "his mother bare him with sorrow" (1Ch 4:9,10), ya`bets being interpreted as if it stood for ya`tsebh, "he causes pain." The same play upon words recurs in his prayer, "that it be not to my sorrow!" His request was granted, "and the sorrow implied by his ominous name was averted by prayer" (Dummelow, in the place cited.).</p>