Tarshish

The name of a place which first comes into notice in the days of Solomon. The question as to the locality of Tarshish has given rise to not a little discussion. Some think there was a Tarshish in the East, on the Indian coast, seeing that “ships of Tarshish” sailed from Eziongeber, on the Red Sea (1 Kings 9:26; 22:48; 2 Chr. 9:21). Some, again, argue that Carthage was the place so named. There can be little doubt, however, that this is the name of a Phoenician port in Spain, between the two mouths of the Guadalquivir (the name given to the river by the Arabs, and meaning “the great wady” or water-course). It was founded by a Carthaginian colony, and was the farthest western harbour of Tyrian sailors. It was to this port Jonah’s ship was about to sail from Joppa. It has well been styled “the Peru of Tyrian adventure;” it abounded in gold and silver mines.

It appears that this name also is used without reference to any locality. “Ships of Tarshish” is an expression sometimes denoting simply ships intended for a long voyage (Isa. 23:1, 14), ships of a large size (sea-going ships), whatever might be the port to which they sailed. Solomon’s ships were so styled (1 Kings 10:22; 22:49).

KJB,ESV = ‘Tarshish’

Recorded scripture occurrences (20)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: PSA 48:7

OET-RV PSA 48:7

7 ⇔You smash the ships from Tarshish
⇔ with the east wind.

OET-LV PSA 48:8

8  With_a _wind _of the_east you _shatter (the)_ships _of Tarshiysh.

Show passage in OET: PSA 72:10

OET-RV PSA 72:10

10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the islands be forced to pay tribute.
⇔ ≈ May the kings of Sheva and Seva offer gifts.

OET-LV PSA 72:10

10 The _kings _of Tarshiysh and_the_islands tribute they _will _pay the _kings _of Shəⱱāʼ and_Şəⱱāʼ a _gift they _will _bring _near.

Show passage in OET: KI1 10:22

OET-RV KI1 10:22

22 because the king had a fleet of ships that joined King Hiram’s fleet. Every three years the fleet would return bringing gold and silver, ivory, monkeys and baboons.

OET-LV KI1 10:22

22 If/because the _ship[s]_of Tarshiysh to/for_the _king on_sea with the _ship[s]_of Ḩīrām one_time to_three years it _came the _ship[s]_of Tarshiysh carrying _of (of)_gold and_silver ivori(es) and_monkeys and_peacocks.

Jump to OET PSA 48:7 section.

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Jump to OET KI1 10:22 section.

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