Jabez in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE

ja'-bez (ya`bets, "sorrow" ("height)): (1) Place: An unidentified town probably in the territory of Judah, occupied by scribes (1 Ch 2:55). For an ingenious reconstruction of the passage see EB, under the word (2) Person: The head of a family of Judah, noted for his "honorable" character, though "his mother bare him with sorrow" (1 Ch 4:9,10), ya`bets being interpreted as if it stood for ya`tsebh, "he causes pain." The same play upon words recurs in his prayer, "that it be not to my sorrow!" His request was granted, "and the sorrow implied by his ominous name was averted by prayer" (Dummelow, in the place cited.).