1 Chronicles — Chapter 4

Ephratha the father of Bethlehem — \"Father\" here means \"prince\" or \"lord,\" as Vatablus notes. Alternatively, \"Bethlehem\" is the name of a son of Ephratha, not of the city — as in 2:54, \"Bethlehem\" is called \"the son of Salma.\"

Jabes was more honourable than his brethren, and his mother called his name Jabes, saying: Because I bore him with sorrow. Jabes means sorrow in Hebrew (Jaabes = Jaaseb, the letters transposed). His prayer to God for blessing and enlarged territory was granted — a model of confident prayer even for one marked from birth by suffering.

And God granted him what he had requested — Lapide (brief): God heard the prayer of Jabez who asked for blessing, enlarged borders, a protecting hand, and preservation from evil. The simplicity and trust of his petition is exemplary.