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תַּרְשִׁישׁ

𐤕𐤓𐤔𐤉𐤔

Tareshish

H8659 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper noun; primary meaning refers to a distant maritime region or port, Tarshish, often associated with sea trade or voyages in the Hebrew Bible. The term is also used as a personal name and possibly refers to a type of merchant vessel operating routes to or from this region. The precise geographic identification of Tarshish remains debated, but it consistently denotes a far-off, wealthy source or destination, especially for precious goods, in biblical literature. Additionally, Tarshish occurs as a personal name (an Israelite and a Persian official).

Semantic Range

distant maritime region or port (Tarshish); symbol or source of wealth; place associated with long-distance trade; type of ship or merchant vessel; personal name of an Israelite; name of a Persian functionary; name applied to a gemstone (in a different context)

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain; etymology debated. While some propose a link to the root תרשׁ (trš), its meaning is obscure. The connection to 'precious stone' derives from the biblical usage of תַּרְשִׁישׁ for a gemstone (possibly topaz or chrysolite), but the place name is likely unrelated and of foreign origin, potentially reflecting a non-Semitic maritime toponym.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תַּרְשִׁישׁ features prominently in texts describing long-distance trade, notably associated with King Solomon's fleet (1 Kings 10:22) and the prophet Jonah's attempted flight (Jonah 1:3). The identification of Tarshish ranges from Tartessos in ancient southern Iberia (modern Spain) to Carthage, Tarsus in Cilicia, and locations in North Africa or even the Indian Ocean. The Septuagint renders Tarshish as Θαρσείς or Θαρσις, influencing later translations. In some contexts (e.g., Isaiah 2:16; Psalm 48:7), 'ships of Tarshish' became a term for large seagoing vessels, reflecting the legendary reputation of Tarshish as a symbol of wealth, distance, and naval trade. The personal name appears in genealogical lists (e.g., 1 Chronicles 7:10; Esther 1:14). English translations sometimes obscure the difference between the region, the type of ship, and the personal name. The stone called תַּרְשִׁישׁ in Exodus 28:20 may derive from a separate etymology.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably the same as תַּרְשִׁישׁ (as the region of the stone, or the reverse); Tarshish, a place on the Mediterranean, hence, the ephithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port); also the name of a Persian and of an Israelite; Tarshish, Tharshish.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain uncertain (possible root meanings: to run, to break up, possible link to precious stones, but not established)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8659-02 תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish 20
H8659-03 תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁ/ה tareshishah HNp/Sd to Tarshish toward Tarshish Tareshish 4
H8659-04 וְ/תַרְשִׁ֖ישׁ vetareshish HC/Np and Tarshish and Tarshish and Tareshish 2
H8659-01 מִ/תַּרְשִׁ֣ישׁ mitareshish HR/Np from Tarshish from Tarshish from Tareshish 1
H8659-05 וְ/תַרְשִׁ֑ישָׁ/ה vetareshishah HC/Np/Sh and Tarshish and toward Tarshish and Tareshish 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8659-04 Genesis 10:4 וְ/תַרְשִׁ֑ישׁ vetareshish HC/Np and Tarshish and Tarshish and Tareshish
H8659-02 1 Kings 10:22 תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 1 Kings 10:22 תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ tareshish-2 HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 1 Kings 22:49 תַּרְשִׁ֜ישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Isaiah 2:16 תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Isaiah 23:1 תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-03 Isaiah 23:6 תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁ/ה tareshishah HNp/Sd to Tarshish toward Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Isaiah 23:10 תַּרְשִׁ֕ישׁ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Isaiah 23:14 תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Isaiah 60:9 תַּרְשִׁישׁ֙ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Isaiah 66:19 תַּרְשִׁ֨ישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-01 Jeremiah 10:9 מִ/תַּרְשִׁ֣ישׁ mitareshish HR/Np from Tarshish from Tarshish from Tareshish
H8659-02 Ezekiel 27:12 תַּרְשִׁ֥ישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Ezekiel 27:25 תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Ezekiel 38:13 תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-03 Jonah 1:3 תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁ/ה tareshishah HNp/Sd to Tarshish toward Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Jonah 1:3 תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ tareshish HNp to Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-03 Jonah 1:3 תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁ/ה tareshishah-2 HNp/Sd to Tarshish toward Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-03 Jonah 4:2 תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁ/ה tareshishah HNp/Sd to Tarshish toward Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Psalms 48:8 תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ tareshish HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Psalms 72:10 תַרְשִׁ֣ישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 Esther 1:14 תַרְשִׁ֔ישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-05 1 Chronicles 1:7 וְ/תַרְשִׁ֑ישָׁ/ה vetareshishah HC/Np/Sh and Tarshish and toward Tarshish and Tareshish
H8659-04 1 Chronicles 7:10 וְ/תַרְשִׁ֖ישׁ vetareshish HC/Np and Tarshish and Tarshish and Tareshish
H8659-02 2 Chronicles 9:21 תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 2 Chronicles 9:21 תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ tareshish-2 HNp of Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 2 Chronicles 20:36 תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
H8659-02 2 Chronicles 20:37 תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ tareshish HNp Tarshish Tarshish Tareshish
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