"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Jabez Meaning in the Bible
Jabez
boy
Jabez means "He causes pain; Sorrowful", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Jabez appears in the King James Bible, and 1 Chronicles 4:9 is the passage most often tied to it. Jabez's story is the ultimate name-reversal. Born in pain, he prayed his way into honor and blessing. His life proves that we are not imprisoned by our origins — bold prayer can rewrite our story.
Is Jabez in the Bible?
Yes — Jabez appears in the King James Bible, including 1 Chronicles 4:9.
Pronunciation:/JAY-bez/
OriginHebrew
MeaningHe causes pain; Sorrowful
What does Jabez mean?
Jabez is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "He causes pain; Sorrowful". Jabez means "he causes pain" or "sorrowful" in Hebrew — a name given by his mother because she bore him in pain. Yet Jabez refused to be defined by his painful name.
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Editor’s reflection
A man named for his mother's pain — and remembered for a prayer of nine lines.
Jabez (Hebrew יַעְבֵּץ) is a wordplay on otseb, 'pain' or 'sorrow,' with the letters reordered. Chronicles states the reason outright: 'his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow' (1 Chronicles 4:9). It is one of the few Bible names given for the mother's experience rather than the child's destiny.
He appears in the middle of nine chapters of genealogy, and the narrator stops the list to say he 'was more honourable than his brethren.' Then comes the prayer: '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' (1 Chronicles 4:10).
The prayer became a publishing phenomenon in 2000 and is often read as a formula for prosperity. The text itself is more modest: a man born into sorrow asking God to reverse it, in a book obsessed with land and inheritance.
Jabez is used as a given name mainly in Welsh nonconformist and West African Christian families. It is pronounced JAY-bez in English.
“Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me.”
What does Jabez mean in the Bible?
Jabez means "He causes pain; Sorrowful" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Jabez means "he causes pain" or "sorrowful" in Hebrew — a name given by his mother because she bore him in pain. Yet Jabez refused to be defined by his painful name. His prayer, recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:10, became one of the most famous prayers in Scripture.
Jabez prayed: "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 remarkably, "God granted him that which he requested."
Jabez's story demonstrates that our given labels and circumstances do not determine our destiny. By turning to God in faith, Jabez transcended his name's meaning and became "more honourable than his brethren." His brief mention carries immense theological weight.
Where does Jabez appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Jabez is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with 1 Chronicles 4:9. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"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."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Jabez?
Jabez has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Which books of the Bible mention Jabez?
Jabez is mentioned across 1 book of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Jabez?
Jabez's story is the ultimate name-reversal. Born in pain, he prayed his way into honor and blessing. His life proves that we are not imprisoned by our origins — bold prayer can rewrite our story.
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Promises connected to the meaning of the name Jabez:
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What names are related to Jabez?
Names like Jabez
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "He causes pain; Sorrowful" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Jabez
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Jabez
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Jabez name meaning: frequently asked questions
It is a single verse, 1 Chronicles 4:10, in which Jabez asks God to bless him, enlarge his territory, keep His hand with him, and keep him from evil — and the text records that God granted it. It is a recorded prayer, not a promised formula.
Yes — Jabez appears in the King James Bible, including 1 Chronicles 4:9.
Jabez means "He causes pain; Sorrowful." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in 1 Chronicles 4:9, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Jabez
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Jabez?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Jabez?
You can read every verse where Jabez appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.