1 Chronicles 4:9 (GNV)

Passage

But Iabez was more honourable then his brethren: and his mother called his name Iabez, saying, Because I bare him in sorowe.

Nearby Context

1 Chronicles 4:7 And the sonnes of Heleah were Zereth, Iezohar and Ethnan.

1 Chronicles 4:8 Also Coz begate Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the sonne of Harum.

1 Chronicles 4:9 But Iabez was more honourable then his brethren: and his mother called his name Iabez, saying, Because I bare him in sorowe.

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Iabez called on the God of Israel, saying, If thou wilt blesse me in deede, and enlarge my coastes, and if thine hand be with me, and thou wilt cause me to be deliuered from euill, that I be not hurt. And God graunted the thing that he asked.

1 Chronicles 4:11 And Chelub the brother of Shuah begate Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "iabez", "honourable", "brethren", "mother", "name", and "saying". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "iabez", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Also Coz begate Anub and Zobebah and..." into verse 10's "And Iabez called on the God of...", so "called" and "iabez" belong inside that flow. In 1 Chronicles context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "called" and "iabez" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.