1 Chronicles 4:40

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. 1 Chronicles 4:40 (KJV)

The quotation frequently cited as 1 Chronicles 4:40 reads, “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.” Some readers have understood this statement to describe a pastoral search undertaken by the Simeonites, emphasizing the importance of fertile grazing land for their flocks and portraying the region as spacious, tranquil, and peaceful. In that view, the verse would illustrate divine provision, diligent initiative, and a sense of historical continuity with earlier inhabitants descended from Ham.

However, careful examination of the canonical text shows that this wording does not appear in the King James Version or in most standard translations of 1 Chronicles 4:40. The chapter primarily contains genealogical records of the tribe of Judah and related families, and the authentic verse records a different genealogical detail unrelated to pastureland or the descendants of Ham. Consequently, any theological or historical conclusions that rely on the quoted passage cannot be supported by the biblical source.

Readers are therefore encouraged to treat the themes of divine provision, diligent initiative, and historical continuity as interpretive reflections rather than direct biblical teaching when they arise from this misattributed quotation. For accurate insight into the purpose and content of 1 Chronicles 4, one should consult the actual text, which focuses on lineage lists and family histories. In light of the authentic scriptural record, the passage often cited as 1 Chronicles 4:40 should be reconsidered, and any application drawn from it should be grounded in verses that are verifiably part of the biblical canon.