תַּרְשִׁישׁ (H8659) — Hebrew Lexicon

תַּרְשִׁישׁ

𐤕𐤓𐤔𐤉𐤔

Tareshish

H8659 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (possible root meanings: to run, to break up, possible link to precious stones, but not established)

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 submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

תרשׁ (uncertain) (t-r-š (uncertain)) — uncertain; associated with a distant maritime region, seafaring trade, wealth

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

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

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

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

← H8658 Hebrew Lexicon H8660 →