Jabez is a man appearing in the Book of Chronicles. He is implied to be ancestor of the Kings of Judah, although not explicitly included in the lineage.[1] His mother named him Jabez (Hebrew יַעְבֵּץ [ya'betz]),[2] meaning "he makes sorrowful", because his birth was difficult.[3] Jabez's most important action was to conquer new territory with divine sanction.[4]
Although the textual description of Jabez is brief, some Targumim elaborate that Jabez also established a religious institution for the Levite children of Zipporah: "And he was called Jabez, because in his council he instituted a school of 31 disciples; they were called Tirathim, because in their hymns their voice was like trumpets; and Shimaathim, because in hearing they lifted up their faces, i.e., in prayer; and Suchathim, because they were overshadowed by the Spirit of prophecy."[5]
In Arabic and Persian, Jabez is transliterated as Yabis or Yabiz ( يَعْبِيصَ ). However, Syriac and Arabic translations use a substantially different transliteration of ainei or "aina", cognate with Hebrew עיני [my eye(s)].[citation needed]
Jabez is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:55, possibly as a place name.