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 asH8658 (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 astarshiysh (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 HEBREWtarshiysh
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
tarshishDefinitiona son of Javan, his desc. and their land, also a port on the Mediterranean, also a Benjamite, also a Pers. noble
NASB TranslationTarshish (29).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II.
, site not certainly known (WklAltor. Forsch. see 445); mostTartessues 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, usually () (Isaiah 23:1,14 =Carthage); — especially in phraseTarshish-ships (large, sea-going vessels,fit to ply to Tarshish)Isaiah 2:16 ( ),Isaiah 23:1,14;Isaiah 60:9;Ezekiel 27:25;1 Kings 22:49, "" 2Chronicles 20:36,37 (where the shipsgo to ); 1k 2 Chron 10:22 (twice in verse) "" 2Chronicles 9:21 (), +2 Chronicles 9:21; (shipsgo to ); aloneIsaiah 23:6;Jonah 1:3 (twice in verse);Jonah 4:2 (all with locative),Genesis 10:4 ""1 Chronicles 1:7 (erroneous locative),Isaiah 66:19;Psalm 72:10;Jonah 1:3;Isaiah 23:10; trading-portEzekiel 27:12;Ezekiel 38:13, whence comes silverJeremiah 10:9.
1 Chronicles 7:10.
Esther 1:14; explained By Scheft53as Old Iraniantršus,'der Gierige.'
Topical Lexicon
OverviewStrong’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 andExodus 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 inRevelation 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
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
