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1 Chronicles 4 · a question people ask

Does the chapter tell us to pray Jabez's words?

In the text

The chapter doesn't say so. It tells what one man asked and what God did: "Jabez called on the God of Israel" and "God granted him that which he requested" (4:10). It doesn't tell anyone else to pray these words, it doesn't promise the same answer to those who do, and it doesn't say why God granted it. What it does show is whom he called on, "the God of Israel" (4:10), and what he asked for: to be blessed, a larger border, God's hand with him, and to be kept from evil, "that I may not cause pain" (4:10). The map line on this chapter sets one of his requests beside words Jesus gave his disciples to pray (Matthew 6:13).

The verses

“Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border! May your hand be with me, and may you keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” God granted him that which he requested.”
1 Chronicles 4:10 · World English Bible
“Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’”
Matthew 6:13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Chronicles 4

1 Chronicles 4: Jabez called on the God of Israel

The word "God" first comes in 1 Chronicles in a prayer in the middle of Judah's names. Jabez, named for his mother's sorrow (4:9), asks the God of Israel to bless him and keep him from evil, "that I may not cause pain!", and "God granted him that which he requested" (4:10).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions