Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 4:1-10

One reason, no doubt, why Ezra is here most particular in the register of the tribe of Judah is because it was that tribe which, with its appendages, Simeon, Benjamin, and Levi, made up the kingdom of Judah, which not only long survived the other tribes in Canaan, but in process of time, now when this was written, returned out of captivity, when the generality of the other tribes were lost in the kingdom of Assyria. The most remarkable person in this paragraph is Jabez. It is not said whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 4:9

And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren ,.... The Targum adds,"and wiser in the law than his brethren;'or he might be a man of great wealth and riches, or of great strength and courage, all which make a man honourable; or he may be so called, because a praying man, as follows, a man of devotion and religion, a man of God, see 1 Samuel 9:6 , but who he was is not easy to say, probably a son or brother of Harum, or however that belonged to one of the families of Aharhel, mentioned in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 4:9

And Jabez was more honorable - This whole account is variously understood by some of the principal versions. I shall subjoin a translation of each. Septuagint. - "And Igabes was more glorious than his brethren; and his mother called his name Igabes, saying, I have brought thee forth as Gabes. And Igabes invoked the God of Israel, saying, If in blessing thou wilt bless me, and enlarge my borders, and thy hand be with me, and wilt give me understanding not to depress me: and God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 4:1-23

EXPOSITION After the large space given to the "sons of David," of the tribe of Judah, in the previous chapter, this chapter returns for twenty-three verses to group together a few additional ramifications of the same tribe, whose registers were for some reasons, perhaps not very evident, preserved and known. The first verses follow in the direction already indicated in 1 Chronicles 2:1-55 ; near the end of which we were left with Shobal and Haroeh, probably the same with Reaiah (the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 4:9

This is not less true of the name of verses. 9, 10, which, however, has made its own mark amid the whole scene. The episode of these two verses, offering itself amid what should seem, superficially, a dry mass of dead names, is welcome and grateful as the oasis of the desert, and it warns us that life lies hidden at our every footfall on this ground, spread over though it is with monument and inscription, and hollow, as we thought, with the deadest of the dead. But the glimpse of old real life... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 4:9

It is remarkable that Jabez should be introduced without description, or patronymic, as if a well-known personage. We can only suppose that he was known to those for whom Chronicles was written, either by tradition, or by writings which have perished. In 1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez alludes to his name, “sorrowful” (margin): “Grant that the grief implied in my name may not come upon me!” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Chronicles 4:9

1 Chronicles 4:9. Jabez was more honourable, &c. For courage and fervent piety. His mother called his name Jabez That is, sorrowful; saying, Because I bare him with sorrow She had hard labour when she was in travail with him. She records this, that it might be a memorandum to herself, to be thankful to God as long as she lived, for bringing her through that sorrow: and a memorandum to him, that she bore him into a vale of tears, in which he might expect few days and full of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 4:1-43

Descendants of Judah and Simeon (2:1-4:43)Having listed the children of Jacob (Israel) starting with the eldest son Reuben, the writer immediately turns his attention to the tribe of Judah, the tribe that produced the dynasty of David (2:1-17). He traces the line of David first, then goes back to deal with a number of other important people in Judah and lists their descendants (18-55). On completing this, he returns to list the family of David (3:1-9), the descendants of David who reigned after... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Chronicles 4:9

more honourable. Perhaps his going up with Caleb and Othniel against the Canaanites is referred to. See Judges 1:2 , Judges 1:4 , Judges 1:9-15 .Joshua 15:13-19 . Jabez. The transposition of letters in Hebrew may intimate a change of experiences, and mean "may he have pain or grief reversed. " with sorrow. Compare Genesis 3:16 (same word). read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 4:9

9, 10. Jabez—was, as many think, the son of Coz, or Kenaz, and is here eulogized for his sincere and fervent piety, as well, perhaps, as for some public and patriotic works which he performed. The Jewish writers affirm that he was an eminent doctor in the law, whose reputation drew so many scribes around him that a town was called by his name ( :-); and to the piety of his character this passage bears ample testimony. The memory of the critical circumstances which marked his birth was... read more

Group of Brands