The Prayer of Jabez: Meaning and How to Pray It (KJV)

Some prayers are long and detailed. Others are only a few lines, yet they stay with people for years. The Prayer of Jabez is one of those short prayers.

It appears in a place many readers tend to skip: the genealogies in 1 Chronicles. Yet in the middle of names and family lines, God pauses and gives us a few sentences about a man named Jabez—and a prayer that was answered.

Many people return to this prayer when they feel stuck, when they are starting something new, or when they want God’s help to grow. But it is important to approach it in a healthy way. The Prayer of Jabez is not a magic formula. It is a humble request to God for blessing, guidance, and protection.

In this devotional, we will look at the prayer in the KJV, the simple context around it, what each line means, and how you can pray by Jabez’s example in a Christ-centered way.

The Prayer of Jabez (KJV)

Here is the prayer exactly as it appears in Scripture:

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” (1 Chronicles 4:10, KJV)

If you read it quickly, you might miss its depth. It helps to slow down. Jabez asked for four things:

• God’s blessing
• growth (“enlarge my coast”)
• God’s hand to be with him
• protection from evil

Then Scripture says God granted his request.

Who was Jabez, and why is his prayer in 1 Chronicles?

The Bible tells us only a little about Jabez, but what it tells us matters.

Right before the prayer, Scripture says:

“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.” (1 Chronicles 4:9, KJV)

 

Jabez’s name was tied to sorrow

His mother named him Jabez because of sorrow. That means pain was part of the story from the beginning. We do not know the full details, but the Bible is clear that his life began under the shadow of grief.

This matters because it shows us something: the Prayer of Jabez did not come from a person who had an easy life. It came from someone who knew what sorrow felt like.

God highlighted him in the middle of ordinary names

1 Chronicles contains long lists of families. Yet God singled out Jabez in a few lines. That is comforting. It shows that God sees individuals. God notices the one who calls on Him with sincerity, even in a passage that seems quiet and ordinary.

Jabez did not need a long biography for God to hear him. He simply called on the God of Israel.

What the Prayer of Jabez means line by line

This prayer is short, but it is not shallow. Each line teaches something important.

“Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed”

This is a direct request for blessing. But biblical blessing is bigger than money or comfort.

Blessing can include:

• God’s favor and help
• peace in the heart
• provision for real needs
• wisdom and direction
• spiritual growth and fruit
• grace to endure hardship

When Jabez says “bless me indeed,” it carries the sense of a true blessing—real help from God, not empty words.

A healthy way to pray this line today is to ask for God’s blessing in ways that draw you closer to Him, not further away. Blessing that pulls you into pride is not a gift. Blessing that deepens your faith and helps you serve others is a mercy.

“And enlarge my coast”

This is the phrase many people talk about most. “Enlarge my coast” can mean enlarging one’s territory, influence, or boundaries. It can point to growth: more responsibility, more opportunity, more impact.

But it is wise to say this clearly: this is not a greedy request for selfish ambition.

A Christ-centered way to pray “enlarge my coast” is:

• Lord, enlarge my ability to serve
• Lord, enlarge my capacity to steward what You give
• Lord, enlarge my influence for good, not for pride
• Lord, enlarge my opportunities to obey You

Growth is not always comfortable. When God enlarges a person’s life, He often enlarges their responsibilities too. Jabez’s prayer is not simply “give me more.” It is “help me grow under Your hand.”

“And that thine hand might be with me”

This line is about God’s presence and guidance.

In Scripture, God’s hand often speaks of:

• help and support
• direction and leadership
• strength to do what is right
• protection and deliverance

Jabez did not only want expanded territory. He wanted God’s hand to be with him. That is wisdom. Growth without God’s presence can ruin a person. A bigger life without God’s guidance can become a bigger mess.

Many people pray for new doors, but this line teaches us to pray for God’s hand to guide us through those doors.

A good daily prayer is simple: Lord, let Your hand be with me today.

“And that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me”

This line shows spiritual maturity.

Jabez knew something many people forget: when your life grows, temptation often grows too. More influence can bring more pride. More money can bring more compromise. More attention can bring more temptation. More responsibility can bring more pressure, and pressure can lead to poor choices.

So Jabez asked God to keep him from evil, so it would not grieve him.

This includes:

• protection from sin
• protection from temptation
• protection from spiritual attack
• protection from harmful choices that bring grief

This line also shows that Jabez did not want blessing at the cost of peace with God. He did not want growth that ends in grief.

That is a very wise thing to pray.

“And God granted him that which he requested”

This last line is simple but powerful.

God heard Jabez. God answered him.

That does not mean every prayer is answered in the same way or the same timing. But it does show that God is not distant. God is not indifferent. God responds to sincere prayer.

This is not a promise that we can control God with words. It is a reminder that God is willing to bless, guide, and protect the one who calls on Him.

How to pray by Jabez’s example

Here are simple ways to pray this prayer in a healthy, biblical way.

1. Pray it with worship, not demand

Jabez “called on the God of Israel.” He prayed to the true God, with faith. When you pray this prayer, don’t approach it like a transaction.

Pray with reverence:

• acknowledging who God is
• thanking Him for His mercy
• trusting His wisdom

Blessing is a gift, not a paycheck.

2. Pray it with clean motives

Before you ask God to enlarge your coast, it helps to ask yourself honestly:

• Why do I want growth?
• Will this growth help me serve better or only look bigger?
• Am I willing to obey God if growth brings pressure?

God cares about the heart. It is possible to want “more” for reasons that harm the soul. Ask God to purify your motives.

3. Pray it with responsibility

If God enlarges your life, you will need wisdom to steward it. Pray with a willingness to be faithful.

Faithfulness looks like:

• honesty
• discipline
• humility
• kindness
• patience
• accountability
• a clean private life

Growth that is not stewarded becomes a burden. But growth guided by God can become a blessing to many.

4. Pray it with protection and holiness

Many people focus on blessing and enlargement, but the protection line is just as important. Pray it like you mean it.

Ask God to keep you from:

• temptation
• pride
• compromise
• harmful relationships
• dishonest gain
• bitterness
• spiritual dryness

If you want your life to grow, you also need your character to grow.

Common misunderstandings about the Prayer of Jabez

Because this prayer became widely popular through modern teaching, some people misunderstand it. It helps to be clear.

1: Treating it like a magic formula

Repeating words is not the same as praying. God looks at the heart. If someone repeats the Prayer of Jabez while living in stubborn disobedience, the words themselves have no power.

Prayer is relationship. It is calling on God with faith and humility.

2: Assuming it promises wealth to everyone

The prayer includes blessing and enlargement, but Scripture does not teach that every believer will be wealthy. God’s blessings come in many forms. Sometimes His blessing is provision. Sometimes it is protection. Sometimes it is peace. Sometimes it is strength to endure.

A healthy approach is to ask for God’s blessing, while trusting His wisdom on what that blessing should look like.

3: Focusing on “territory” but ignoring “evil”

If you only pray for enlargement but ignore the request for protection from evil, you are not praying like Jabez prayed. The prayer is balanced. It asks for growth and holiness together.

God’s best gifts do not destroy your soul. They shape your life and strengthen your character.

A simple devotional way to pray the Prayer of Jabez

If you want a simple way to pray this prayer daily, here is a calm pattern you can use in 3–5 minutes.

Step 1: Read 1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV) slowly

Read it once. Then read it again slower. Pause between phrases.

Step 2: Turn each phrase into your own words

• Lord, bless me indeed. Bless my life in a real way.
• Lord, enlarge my coast. Grow my capacity to do good.
• Lord, let Your hand be with me. Guide me and help me.
• Lord, keep me from evil. Protect me from sin and harm.

Step 3: End with surrender

Close with a simple sentence like: “Lord, do this Your way, in Your time.”

This keeps the prayer humble and safe.

A sample prayer based on Jabez

Gracious God,
teach me to seek Your blessing with a humble heart.
Bless me indeed in ways that draw me closer to Christ.
Enlarge my life in ways that honor You and help others.
Let Your hand be with me as I make decisions and walk in obedience.
Keep me from evil, and guard my heart from pride and harm.
Amen.

Scripture (KJV):
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel…” (1 Chronicles 4:10).

Closing Words

The Prayer of Jabez is short, but it is full of wisdom. It teaches us to ask God for blessing, not as a selfish demand, but as a humble request. It teaches us to ask for growth, while also asking for God’s presence and protection.

If your life has been marked by sorrow, Jabez is a quiet reminder that sorrow does not get the final word. God can bless a life that began in pain. God can enlarge a person’s influence for good. God can keep you from evil. God can answer prayer.

Start simple. Read the verse. Pray one line at a time. Trust God with the outcome. And keep walking faithfully.

FAQs

What is the Prayer of Jabez in the KJV?

The Prayer of Jabez is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10. It is a short prayer asking God for blessing, enlargement, His hand to be with the person, and protection from evil.

What does “enlarge my coast” mean?

“Enlarge my coast” can mean growth in territory, influence, opportunity, or responsibility. In a devotional sense, it can be prayed as a request for God to expand your capacity to serve, lead, and steward His blessings with humility.

Is it okay to pray the Prayer of Jabez every day?

Yes. It can be a good daily prayer if you pray it with sincere faith, clean motives, and surrender to God’s will. The goal is not repetition for its own sake, but a steady heart that depends on God.

Does the Prayer of Jabez teach prosperity gospel?

No. The prayer asks for blessing and enlargement, but it does not promise wealth to everyone. A healthy biblical approach is to ask God for His blessing while trusting Him to define what that blessing looks like and when it comes.

How do I pray the Prayer of Jabez with the right motives?

Pray it with humility and surrender. Ask God to bless you in ways that honor Christ, enlarge your life so you can serve others, keep His hand on you for guidance, and protect you from evil so growth does not become grief.