4:5 Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 4:6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 4:7 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, 4:8 and Koz, who was the father of Anub, Hazzobebah, and the clans of Aharhel the son of Harum.
4:9 Jabez was more respected than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, for she said, “I experienced pain when I gave birth to him.” 1 4:10 Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only 2 you would greatly bless me and expand my territory! May your hand be with me! Keep me from harm so I might not endure pain!” 3 God answered his prayer. 4
1 tn In Hebrew the name יַעְבֵּץ (ya’bets, “Jabez”) sounds like the noun עֹצֶב (’otsev) which means “pain.”
1 tn On the use of אִם (’im, “if”) here, see HALOT 60 s.v.
2 tn Heb “and act from [i.e., so as to prevent] harm so that I might not be in pain.”
3 tn Heb “and God brought about what he had asked.”