Bible Dictionary Definitions

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Verse You Selected: 

Translation Verse         Text
Strong Concordance Isa 23:6 Pass ye over [05674] to Tarshish [08659]; howl [03213], ye inhabitants [03427] of the isle [0339].

Summary Of Definitions Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All
Word American Tract Society - Definition
TARSHISH 1. The second son of Javan, Ge 10:4.

2. Tartessus, an ancient city between two mouths of the Guadalquiver, in the south of Spain. It was a Phoenician colony, and was the most celebrated emporium in the west to which the Hebrews and Phoenicians traded. That Tarshish was situated in the west is evident from Ge 10:4, where it is joined with Elisha, Kittim, and Dodanim. See also Ps 72:10. According to Eze 38:13, it was an important place of trade; according to Jer 10:9, it exported silver, and according to Eze 27:12,25, silver, iron, tin, and lead to the Tyrian markets. They embarked for this place from Joppa, Jon 1:3-4. In Isa 23:1,6,10, it is evidently represented as an important Phoenician colony. It is named among other distant states, in Isa 66:19. All these notices agree with Tartessus.

In some of these passages, however, Tarshish may be used as a general expression, applicable to all the distant shores of Europe; and thus the custom may have arisen of designating as "ships of Tarshish" any large merchant ships bound on long voyages in any direction. The English term Indiaman is very similarly used. Whether the ships fitted out by Solomon at Ezion-geber on the Red sea, sailed around Africa to Tarshish in Spain, or gave the name of Tarshish to some place in India of Ethiopia, as the discovers of America gave it the eastern names India and Indians, cannot now be determined, 1Ki 10:22 22:48,49 2Ch 9:21 20:26 Isa 23:1,14 60:9.
Top