Prayer of Jabez

Prayer of Yaběts

Though called a prayer by most, the word used, as discussed below, is more of a calling on the Almighty.
A key factor to note, which is hilighted below, is the two Aleph Tav in verse ten.

In First Chronicles four, in verses nine and ten, we read:4:9

And Yaběts was more esteemed than his brothers, and his mother called his name Yaběts, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”
4:10 And Yaběts called on the Elohim of Yisra’ěl saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, not to be my pain!” And Elohim gave him what he asked. (The Scriptures 2009)

In Hebrew we read: 4:9 ויהי יעבץ נכבד מאחיו ואמו קראה שׁמו יעבץ לאמר כי ילדתי בעצב׃
4:10 ויקרא יעבץ לאלהי ישׂראל לאמר אם־ברך תברכני והרבית את־גבולי והיתה ידך עמי ועשׂית מרעה לבלתי עצבי ויבא אלהים את אשׁר־שׁאל׃ highlighting by webmaster (Hebrew Old Testament)

A comparison to another modern English Bible.

4:9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying: 'Because I bore him with pain.'

4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying: 'Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge [אֵת] my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest work deliverance from evil, that it may not pain me!' And God granted [אֵת] him that which he requested. [אֵת] inserted by webmaster from the Hebrew (Jewish Publication Society)

These two verses have much importance. In verse ten, 'enlarge' is highlighted by an 'aleph tav' and also in verse ten another 'aleph tav' after 'granted'.

הָיָה aHâiâh (hayah - translated as 'was' in English) Jabez (יַעְבֵּץ ya‛bêts - meaning to grieve; sorrowful) was more honourable (כָּבֵד kâbêd) than (מִנֵּי minnêy - meaning than, among) brethren (אָח 'âch - meaning brother[s]): and his mother (אֵם 'êm) called (קָרָא qârâ') his name (שֵׁם shêm) Jabez (יַעְבֵּץ ya‛bêts), saying (אָמַר 'âmar), Because (כִּי kı̂y) I bare (יָלַד yâlad) him with sorrow (עֹצֶב ‛ôtseb - meaning bodily pain/ sorrow).

Jabez (יַעְבֵּץ ya‛bêts) called (קָרָא qârâ') on the Alohim (אֱלֹהִים 'ĕlôhı̂ym) of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל yiśrâ'êl), saying (אָמַר 'âmar), Surely (אִם 'im) bless me (בָּרַךְ bârak - meaning to kneel; by implication to bless Alohim [as an act of adoration], and [vice-versa] man [as a benefit]) indeed bless (בָּרַךְ bârak - translated as indeed in the text, but actually in Hebrew we see he repeated it a second time.), and enlarge (רָבָה râbâh - meaning to enlarge, increase)(אֵת aleph tav - has been inserted, take note, this is important) my coast (גְּבֻל gebûl - meaning coast, border, space), and that thine hand (יָד yâd - meaning open hand) might (הָיָה hâyâh) be with (עִם‛im) me, and that thou would keep (עָשָׂה ‛âśâh) me from (מִנֵּי minnêy) evil (רָעָה râ‛âh - meaning adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, distress), that it may not (בִּלְתִּי biltı̂y) grieve (עָצַב‛âtsab - hurt)! Alohim (אֱלֹהִים 'ĕlôhı̂ym)(אֵת aleph tav - has been inserted, take note, this is important) granted (בּוֹא bô') his request (שָׁאֵל shâ'êl - meaning what he asked for, request).

qârâ' kaw-raw'
A primitive root (rather identical with H7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (that is, properly address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications): - bewray [self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim (-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.