Bible Location
Meaning: contemplation; examination · 20 cross references · Modern-day map available
Tarshish is a distant trading destination known in the Bible for seafaring wealth, long-range commerce, and westward horizons beyond the eastern Mediterranean world. It is important because it represents the far reach of maritime trade and because Jonah's attempted flight to Tarshish gives it a memorable place in biblical imagination. First appears in 1 Kgs 10:22.1
Place meaning
contemplation; examination
Coordinates
36.95, -6.38
First appears
1 Kgs 10:22
AI summary: Tarshish functions in Scripture as a name for distance, trade, and the seaward reach of the ancient world. In royal contexts it is linked with ships, wealth, and imported goods, making it a symbol of maritime commerce and far-off connections. In the story of Jonah it becomes the destination chosen in attempted escape from God's call, which only deepens its association with remoteness. Across the cross references, Tarshish is presented less as a local biblical town and more as a horizon-place of ships, trade, and distance.1
Place meaning
contemplation; examination
Latitude
36.95
Longitude
-6.38
Bible references
20
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). 3
Source note: this 1893 dictionary language reflects its period and may be culturally insensitive or outdated. It is presented as historical source material, not as ai-BIBLE’s language, interpretation, or endorsement.
| Book | Cross-References |
|---|---|
| 1Kgs | |
| 2Chr | |
| Ps | |
| Isa | |
| Jer | |
| Ezek | |
| Jonah |
Figure1: A table of cross references between the selected passage and other passages (Data from Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.)
AI-assisted summary prepared for ai-BIBLE and stored as page content, based on dictionary material, place metadata, and linked Bible cross references.
Alistair de Blacquiere-Clarkson, “ai-BIBLE Bible Names JSON Factsheet Aggregating Material from Smith’s Bible Dictionary & Hitcocks’s New and Complete Analysis of the Bible.” ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
M.G.Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.