Question:  Dear Greg,

            In the book of 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we read the story of Jabez.  Verse 9 tells us how he got his name, because of the pain his mother felt during his birth.  A friend of mine tells me that the true reason his mother gave him that name is so that he would remember what his name meant for the rest of his life.  I do not agree with this assessment, because a child would be ridiculed for having such a name.  I don’t think a mother would want to have her son go through that in his childhood.  I may be wrong, so that’s why I am asking you.

            Thank you in advance for your help. 

            God bless,

            Miguel

Answer:  Dear Miguel,

            First of all, PTM is not inclined to believe much of the hype about the Prayer of Jabez.  For example, you may wish to check our article on the Prayer of Jabez in the September/October Plain Truth.

            As far as his name recalling the pain he had caused his mother giving birth to him, what significance would that have?  Virtually all children cause their mothers some pain during childbirth—some a great deal of pain—and in some cases the mother dies during childbirth.  Should such children then be named “death”—or “near death”?  Given this reasoning, at the very least all children should be given the middle name “pain”.  Such a name would then become so generic and non-specific that all children could just as well be named “baby” or “child”.  But then what would be the purpose of naming them? 

            It would seem that your friend’s speculation is just that.  Unfortunately, much of the Prayer of Jabez craze has led to such superstitious and uninformed opinions.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht