1 Chronicles 4:40
New International Version
They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet. Some Hamites had lived there formerly.

New Living Translation
They found lush pastures there, and the land was spacious, quiet, and peaceful. Some of Ham’s descendants had been living in that region.

English Standard Version
where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful, for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham.

Berean Standard Bible
There they found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful, and quiet; for some Hamites had lived there formerly.

King James Bible
And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.

New King James Version
And they found rich, good pasture, and the land was broad, quiet, and peaceful; for some Hamites formerly lived there.

New American Standard Bible
They found pasture that was rich and good, and the land was spread out on both sides, and peaceful and undisturbed; for those who lived there previously were Hamites.

NASB 1995
They found rich and good pasture, and the land was broad and quiet and peaceful; for those who lived there formerly were Hamites.

NASB 1977
And they found rich and good pasture, and the land was broad and quiet and peaceful; for those who lived there formerly were Hamites.

Legacy Standard Bible
They found rich and good pasture, and the land was broad and quiet and peaceful; for those who lived there formerly were Hamites.

Amplified Bible
They found rich, good pasture, and the [cleared] land was wide, quiet, and peaceful; for those who had lived there previously came from Ham [and had left it a better place for those who came after them].

Christian Standard Bible
They found rich, good pasture, and the land was broad, peaceful, and quiet, for some Hamites had lived there previously.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They found rich, good pasture, and the land was broad, peaceful, and quiet, for some Hamites had lived there previously.

American Standard Version
And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they that dwelt there aforetime were of Ham.

Contemporary English Version
and they found a lot of good pastureland that was quiet and undisturbed. This had once belonged to the Hamites,

English Revised Version
And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they that dwelt there aforetime were of Ham.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They found pasture that was rich and good. The land was vast, peaceful, and quiet because the Hamites used to live there.

Good News Translation
They found plenty of fertile pasture lands there in a stretch of open country that was quiet and peaceful. The people who had lived there before were Hamites.

International Standard Version
They discovered abundant and excellent grazing lands there, where the land was very broad, secure, and tranquil, because the former inhabitants there were descendants of Ham.

Majority Standard Bible
There they found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful, and quiet; for some Hamites had lived there formerly.

NET Bible
They found fertile and rich pasture; the land was very broad, undisturbed and peaceful. Indeed some Hamites had been living there prior to that.

New Heart English Bible
They found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for those who lived there before were of Ham.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they found rich pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.

World English Bible
They found rich, good pasture, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceful, for those who lived there before were descended from Ham.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they find pasture, fat and good, and the land broad of sides, and quiet, and safe, for those dwelling there before are of Ham.

Young's Literal Translation
and they find pasture, fat and good, and the land broad of sides, and quiet, and safe, for of Ham are those dwelling there before.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will find fat pasture and good, and the land wide of hands and resting and quiet; for from Ham dwelling there before.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they found fat pastures, and very good, and a country spacious, and quiet, and fruitful, in which some of the race of Cham had dwelt before.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they found fat and very good pastures, and a very wide and quiet and fruitful land, in which some from the stock of Ham had lived before.

New American Bible
They found abundant and good pastures, and the land was spacious, quiet, and peaceful—for the Hamites dwelt there formerly.

New Revised Standard Version
where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful; for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and destroyed their tents utterly

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they found pasture that was good and lush, and land great and good, and tranquility and peace was there because of those dwelling in it from the first.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they that dwelt there aforetime were of Ham.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they found abundant and good pastures, and the land before them was wide, and there was peace and quietness; for there were some of the children of Cham who dwelt there before.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
More Descendants of Judah
39and they journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, in search of pasture for their flocks. 40There they found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful, and quiet; for some Hamites had lived there formerly. 41These who were noted by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites and Meunites there in their dwellings, devoting them to destruction even to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks.…

Cross References
Numbers 13:27
And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit!

Deuteronomy 8:7-9
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and fountains and springs that flow through the valleys and hills; / a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; / a land where you will eat food without scarcity, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and whose hills are ready to be mined for copper.

Joshua 22:8
saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

Genesis 13:10
And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

Exodus 3:8
I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

Judges 18:9-10
They answered, “Come on, let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and it is very good. Why would you fail to act? Do not hesitate to go there and take possession of the land! / When you enter, you will come to an unsuspecting people and a spacious land, for God has delivered it into your hand. It is a place where nothing on earth is lacking.”

Isaiah 7:22
and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.

Ezekiel 20:6
On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.

Jeremiah 32:22
You gave them this land that You had sworn to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Nehemiah 9:25
They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

Revelation 21:4
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Luke 12:32
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.


Treasury of Scripture

And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelled there of old.

the land.

Judges 18:7-10
Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man…

Ham.

Genesis 9:22-29
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without…

Genesis 10:6
And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

Psalm 78:51
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Jump to Previous
Aforetime Belonged Broad Country Dwelling Dwelt Extended Fat Fertile Find Former Formerly Found Good Grass-Land Ham Hamites Inhabitants Offspring Pasture Peaceable Peaceful Peace-Loving Quiet Rich Safe Sides Spacious Wide Widely
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Aforetime Belonged Broad Country Dwelling Dwelt Extended Fat Fertile Find Former Formerly Found Good Grass-Land Ham Hamites Inhabitants Offspring Pasture Peaceable Peaceful Peace-Loving Quiet Rich Safe Sides Spacious Wide Widely
1 Chronicles 4
1. The posterity of Judah by Caleb, the son of Hur.
5. Of Ashur, the posthumous son Hezron.
9. Of Jabez, and his prayer.
11. The other families of the same stock.
21. The sons of Shelah.
24. The posterity and cities of Simeon.
39. Their conquest of Gedor, and of the Amalekites in mount Seir.














There they found
This phrase indicates a discovery, a moment of divine providence where the people of God come upon something of great value. The Hebrew root for "found" is "מָצָא" (matsa), which often implies not just a physical discovery but a spiritual or providential finding. This suggests that God had prepared this place for them, aligning with the biblical theme of God providing for His people.

rich, good pasture
The description of the pasture as "rich" and "good" highlights the abundance and quality of the land. The Hebrew word for "rich" is "שָׁמֵן" (shamen), meaning fat or fertile, and "good" is "טוֹב" (tov), which conveys goodness, beauty, and prosperity. This reflects God's blessing and provision, reminiscent of the Promised Land described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8).

and the land was spacious
The term "spacious" comes from the Hebrew "רָחָב" (rachab), meaning broad or wide. This suggests freedom and opportunity, a place where the people could expand and thrive without constraint. It echoes the promise to Abraham about his descendants being numerous and possessing the land (Genesis 15:18).

peaceful, and quiet
These words, "peaceful" (שָׁלֵו, shalev) and "quiet" (שָׁקֵט, shaqet), indicate a state of rest and security. In a biblical context, peace (shalom) is not merely the absence of conflict but a state of wholeness and harmony with God. This tranquility is a gift from God, who is often described as the source of peace (Philippians 4:7).

for some Hamites had lived there formerly
The mention of the Hamites, descendants of Ham, one of Noah's sons, provides a historical context. The Hamites were known to have settled in various parts of the ancient Near East. Their former presence suggests a transition of the land from one group to another, often seen in the Bible as part of God's sovereign plan. This transfer of land can be seen as a fulfillment of God's promises to His people, demonstrating His control over history and His faithfulness to His covenant.

(40) And they found fat pasture and good.--If Gerar was the right reading in 1Chronicles 4:39, we might compare Genesis 26:17 seq.

And the land was wide.--Genesis 34:21. Literally, broad of both hands--i.e., on both sides. An open plain is meant.

And quiet and peaceable.--Like Laish, which the Danites took by surprise (Judges 18:7; Judges 18:28). . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
There they found
וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ (way·yim·ṣə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

rich,
שָׁמֵ֣ן (šā·mên)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8082: Greasy, gross, rich

good
וָט֔וֹב (wā·ṭō·wḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

pasture,
מִרְעֶה֙ (mir·‘eh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4829: Pasture, the haunt of wild animals

and the land
וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (wə·hā·’ā·reṣ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

was spacious,
רַחֲבַ֣ת (ra·ḥă·ḇaṯ)
Adjective - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7342: Wide, broad

peaceful,
וְשֹׁקֶ֖טֶת (wə·šō·qe·ṭeṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8252: To be quiet or undisturbed

and quiet,
וּשְׁלֵוָ֑ה (ū·šə·lê·wāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7961: Tranquil, careless, security

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

some
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

Hamites
חָ֔ם (ḥām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2526: Ham -- a son of Noah, also his descendants, also a name for Egyptians

had lived
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים (hay·yō·šə·ḇîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

there
שָׁ֖ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

formerly.
לְפָנִֽים׃ (lə·p̄ā·nîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 4:40 They found fat pasture and good (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 4:39
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