8659. Tarshish
Lexical Summary
Tarshish: Tarshish

Original Word: תַּרְשִׁישׁ
Part of Speech: proper name; location; masculine
Transliteration: Tarshiysh
Pronunciation: tar-SHEESH
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-sheesh')
KJV: Tarshish, Tharshish
NASB: Tarshish
Word Origin: [probably the same as H8658 (תַּרשִׁישׁ - beryl) (as the region of the stone, or the reverse)]

1. Tarshish, a place on the Mediterranean
2. (hence) the ephithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port)
3. (also) the name of a Persian and of an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Tarshish, Tharshish

Probably the same as tarshiysh (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.

see HEBREW tarshiysh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as tarshish
Definition
a son of Javan, his desc. and their land, also a port on the Mediterranean, also a Benjamite, also a Pers. noble
NASB Translation
Tarshish (29).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. תַּרְשִׁרשׁ proper name

1. location a distant port, site not certainly known (WklAltor. Forsch. see 445); most Tartessues in Spain Thes (after older authorities) GesIsa i. 719 MeyGeschichte. d. Alt. i, § 281; other views are: Tyrseni (Etruscans) in Italy, WMMHast. DB TARSHISH, Phoenicia RenoufPSBA xvi. 134 ff., Sardinia HalREJ xiii. 14; see also Ency. Bib.TARSHISH; — Tarshish, ᵐ5 usually Θαρς(ε)ις (Isaiah 23:1,14 Καρχήδων = Carthage); — especially in phrase ׳אֳנִיּוֺת ת Tarshish-ships (large, sea-going vessels, fit to ply to Tarshish) Isaiah 2:16 (ᵐ5 πλοῖον θαλάσσης), Isaiah 23:1,14; Isaiah 60:9; Ezekiel 27:25; 1 Kings 22:49, "" 2Chronicles 20:36,37 (where the ships go to ׳ת); ׳אֳנִי ת1k 2 Chron 10:22 (twice in verse) "" 2Chronicles 9:21 (אֳנִיּוֺת), + 2 Chronicles 9:21; (ships go to ׳ת); ׳ת alone Isaiah 23:6; Jonah 1:3 (twice in verse); Jonah 4:2 (all with ה locative), Genesis 10:4 "" 1 Chronicles 1:7 (erroneous ה locative), Isaiah 66:19; Psalm 72:10; Jonah 1:3; ׳בַּתתֿ Isaiah 23:10; trading-port Ezekiel 27:12; Ezekiel 38:13, whence comes silver Jeremiah 10:9.

2. masculine a. in Benjamin 1 Chronicles 7:10.

b. Persian noble Esther 1:14; explained By Scheft53as Old Iranian tršus, 'der Gierige.'

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 8659 designates a precious stone rendered “beryl,” “chrysolite,” or “topaz” in English versions. Its Old Testament appearances form two main clusters: cultic/architectural settings that display covenant glory, and visionary or poetic passages that depict supernatural brilliance. Together these uses highlight the splendor of God’s presence, the honor of priestly mediation, and the promised beauty of redeemed Zion.

Cultic Use in the Tabernacle

Exodus 28:20 and Exodus 39:13 place תַּרְשִׁישׁ in the fourth row of the high-priestly breastpiece. Set in gold filigree alongside onyx and jasper, it lay over the heart of Aaron “as a continual memorial before the Lord,” visually binding Israel’s tribal names to covenant mercy. The stone therefore shares in the larger theology of the breastpiece—representing God-given order, intercession, and the nearness of divine glory.

Royal and Temple Building

When David amassed materials for the yet-unbuilt temple he included “stones of tarshish in abundance” (1 Chronicles 29:2). Their presence among gold, silver, and “costly wood” shows the king’s resolve to offer the very best for the worship of God. Solomon’s later embellishments (cf. 2 Chronicles 3:6 in many manuscripts and translations) continue the pattern: tarshish belongs to settings where holiness and beauty converge.

Poetic Imagery of Human Excellence

In Song of Songs the beloved’s arms are “rods of gold set with tarshish” (Song of Songs 5:14). The gemstone underscores strength wedded to attractiveness, providing a covenant model of marital delight that mirrors the Lord’s own covenant love.

Prophetic Visions of Divine Glory

Ezekiel twice uses תַּרְשִׁישׁ to describe the wheels beside the living creatures: “Their appearance was like the gleam of beryl” (Ezekiel 1:16; Ezekiel 10:9). The same prophet lists it among the nine stones adorning Eden’s guardian-cherub (Ezekiel 28:13). Daniel’s encounter with the radiant man includes the line, “His body was like tarshish, his face like lightning” (Daniel 10:6). In each case the stone’s color and translucence convey other-worldly energy—motifs taken up ultimately in Revelation 21:20, where beryl decorates the wall of the New Jerusalem.

Themes and Theological Significance

1. Covenant Beauty: Whether on the high priest’s heart or the temple walls, tarshish affirms that God delights in adorning His dwelling and His people (Psalm 27:4; Isaiah 60:13).
2. Mediation and Access: Set in gold, the stone shares in the breastpiece’s function of memorial intercession—a shadow of the perfect High Priest (Hebrews 7:25).
3. Revelatory Light: Prophetic writers reach for tarshish imagery when earthly language strains to capture heavenly brilliance. The gemstone thus becomes a literary bridge between seen and unseen realms.
4. Eschatological Hope: By reappearing in John’s vision of the consummated city, tarshish links tabernacle, temple, and eternity, assuring believers that the glory once localized will soon fill all things.

Practical Ministry Reflections

• Worship leaders may note how physical beauty—colors, materials, craftsmanship—serves spiritual ends when dedicated to God.
• Teachers can trace tarshish from Exodus to Revelation to illustrate biblical unity and the progressive unveiling of glory.
• Pastoral counselors might draw on Song of Songs 5:14 to affirm the goodness of embodied love within marriage, rooted in divine design.

The recurring sparkle of תַּרְשִׁישׁ therefore reminds every generation that the Lord who clothes His sanctuary with splendor also purposes to “make the place of His feet glorious” (Isaiah 60:13)—a promise culminating in the face-to-face communion of the new creation.

Forms and Transliterations
וְתַרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה וְתַרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וְתַרְשִׁ֖ישׁ ותרשיש ותרשישה מִתַּרְשִׁ֣ישׁ מתרשיש תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃ תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁה תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ תַּרְשִׁ֕ישׁ תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ תַּרְשִׁ֜ישׁ תַּרְשִׁ֥ישׁ תַּרְשִׁ֨ישׁ תַּרְשִׁישׁ֙ תַרְשִׁ֔ישׁ תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ תַרְשִׁ֣ישׁ תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ תרשיש תרשיש׃ תרשישה mit·tar·šîš mittarShish mittaršîš tar·šî·šāh tar·šîš ṯar·šîš tarShish tarShishah taršîš ṯaršîš taršîšāh vetarShish vetarShishah wə·ṯar·šî·šāh wə·ṯar·šîš wəṯaršîš wəṯaršîšāh
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 10:4
HEB: יָוָ֖ן אֱלִישָׁ֣ה וְתַרְשִׁ֑ישׁ כִּתִּ֖ים וְדֹדָנִֽים׃
NAS: [were] Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim
KJV: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim,
INT: of Javan Elishah and Tarshish Kittim and Dodanim

1 Kings 10:22
HEB: כִּי֩ אֳנִ֨י תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בַּיָּ֔ם
NAS: the ships of Tarshish with the ships
KJV: a navy of Tharshish with the navy
INT: for the ships of Tarshish the king sea

1 Kings 10:22
HEB: תָּב֣וֹא ׀ אֳנִ֣י תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ נֹֽשְׂאֵת֙ זָהָ֣ב
NAS: the ships of Tarshish came
KJV: the navy of Tharshish, bringing
INT: came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold

1 Kings 22:48
HEB: ק) אֳנִיּ֨וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֜ישׁ לָלֶ֧כֶת אוֹפִ֛ירָה
NAS: made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir
KJV: made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir
INT: ten ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir

1 Chronicles 1:7
HEB: יָוָ֖ן אֱלִישָׁ֣ה וְתַרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה כִּתִּ֖ים וְרוֹדָנִֽים׃
NAS: [were] Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim
KJV: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim,
INT: of Javan Elishah Tarshish Kittim and Dodanim

1 Chronicles 7:10
HEB: וּֽכְנַעֲנָה֙ וְזֵיתָ֔ן וְתַרְשִׁ֖ישׁ וַאֲחִישָֽׁחַר׃
NAS: Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar.
KJV: and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
INT: Chenaanah Zethan Tarshish and Ahishahar

2 Chronicles 9:21
HEB: לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הֹלְכ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ עִ֖ם עַבְדֵ֣י
NAS: which went to Tarshish with the servants
KJV: went to Tarshish with the servants
INT: the king went to Tarshish with the servants

2 Chronicles 9:21
HEB: תָּב֣וֹאנָה ׀ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ נֹֽשְׂאוֹת֙ זָהָ֣ב
NAS: the ships of Tarshish came
KJV: the ships of Tarshish bringing
INT: came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold

2 Chronicles 20:36
HEB: אֳנִיּ֖וֹת לָלֶ֣כֶת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֳנִיּ֖וֹת
NAS: to go to Tarshish, and they made
KJV: to go to Tarshish: and they made
INT: ships to go to Tarshish made the ships

2 Chronicles 20:37
HEB: לָלֶ֥כֶת אֶל־ תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃
NAS: and could not go to Tarshish.
KJV: to go to Tarshish.
INT: go to Tarshish

Esther 1:14
HEB: שֵׁתָר֙ אַדְמָ֣תָא תַרְשִׁ֔ישׁ מֶ֥רֶס מַרְסְנָ֖א
NAS: Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,
KJV: Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,
INT: Shethar Admatha Tarshish Meres Marsena

Psalm 48:7
HEB: תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃
NAS: You break the ships of Tarshish.
KJV: the ships of Tarshish with an east
INT: break the ships of Tarshish

Psalm 72:10
HEB: מַלְכֵ֬י תַרְשִׁ֣ישׁ וְ֭אִיִּים מִנְחָ֣ה
NAS: Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands
KJV: The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
INT: the kings of Tarshish the islands presents

Isaiah 2:16
HEB: כָּל־ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וְעַ֖ל כָּל־
NAS: the ships of Tarshish And against
KJV: And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant
INT: all the ships of Tarshish and against all

Isaiah 23:1
HEB: הֵילִ֣ילוּ ׀ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ כִּֽי־ שֻׁדַּ֤ד
NAS: O ships of Tarshish, For [Tyre] is destroyed,
KJV: ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste,
INT: Wail ships of Tarshish for For is destroyed

Isaiah 23:6
HEB: עִבְר֖וּ תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה הֵילִ֖ילוּ יֹ֥שְׁבֵי
NAS: Pass over to Tarshish; Wail,
KJV: Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl,
INT: Pass to Tarshish Wail inhabitants

Isaiah 23:10
HEB: כַּיְאֹ֑ר בַּת־ תַּרְשִׁ֕ישׁ אֵ֖ין מֵ֥זַח
NAS: O daughter of Tarshish, There is no
KJV: O daughter of Tarshish: [there is] no more strength.
INT: the Nile daughter of Tarshish There restraint

Isaiah 23:14
HEB: הֵילִ֖ילוּ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ כִּ֥י שֻׁדַּ֖ד
NAS: O ships of Tarshish, For your stronghold
KJV: ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength
INT: Wail ships of Tarshish for is destroyed

Isaiah 60:9
HEB: יְקַוּ֗וּ וָאֳנִיּ֤וֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ֙ בָּרִ֣אשֹׁנָ֔ה לְהָבִ֤יא
NAS: for Me; And the ships of Tarshish [will come] first,
KJV: for me, and the ships of Tarshish first,
INT: will wait and the ships of Tarshish first to bring

Isaiah 66:19
HEB: אֶֽל־ הַגּוֹיִ֞ם תַּרְשִׁ֨ישׁ פּ֥וּל וְל֛וּד
NAS: from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put,
KJV: of them unto the nations, [to] Tarshish, Pul,
INT: about the nations Tarshish Pul Lud

Jeremiah 10:9
HEB: כֶּ֣סֶף מְרֻקָּ֞ע מִתַּרְשִׁ֣ישׁ יוּבָ֗א וְזָהָב֙
NAS: is brought from Tarshish, And gold
KJV: is brought from Tarshish, and gold
INT: silver Beaten Tarshish is brought and gold

Ezekiel 27:12
HEB: תַּרְשִׁ֥ישׁ סֹחַרְתֵּ֖ךְ מֵרֹ֣ב
NAS: Tarshish was your customer because
KJV: Tarshish [was] thy merchant
INT: Tarshish was your customer of the abundance

Ezekiel 27:25
HEB: אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ שָׁרוֹתַ֖יִךְ מַעֲרָבֵ֑ךְ
NAS: The ships of Tarshish were the carriers
KJV: The ships of Tarshish did sing
INT: the ships of Tarshish were the carriers your merchandise

Ezekiel 38:13
HEB: וּ֠דְדָן וְסֹחֲרֵ֨י תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ וְכָל־ כְּפִרֶ֙יהָ֙
NAS: and the merchants of Tarshish with all
KJV: and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions
INT: and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish all lions

Jonah 1:3
HEB: יוֹנָה֙ לִבְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁה מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה
NAS: up to flee to Tarshish from the presence
KJV: to flee unto Tarshish from the presence
INT: Jonah to flee to Tarshish the presence of the LORD

28 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8659
28 Occurrences


mit·tar·šîš — 1 Occ.
ṯar·šîš — 20 Occ.
tar·šî·šāh — 4 Occ.
wə·ṯar·šîš — 2 Occ.
wə·ṯar·šî·šāh — 1 Occ.

8658
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