JABEZ
Jabez: translation
Jabez m
Biblical name, possibly meaning ‘sorrowful’ in Hebrew, borne by a descendant of Judah: ‘and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow’ (1 Chronicles 4: 9). The name is thus metathesized from Hebrew ya'zeb, but there are other cases of metathesis in biblical names. His name occurs in a long list of genealogies, and is memorable because of the characterizations given: he was ‘more honourable than his brethren’, and he called on God for material success and protection: ‘Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me.’ The Puritans found great support for their beliefs in this, especially since the Bible says explicitly that God granted his request. Consequently the name was particularly popular among Puritans and Dissenters from the 17th century onwards. It is out of fashion now.