Cyprus, also referred to as Kittim and Elishah, was an island in the Mediterranean Sea that played a significant role in the spread of early Christianity.
Also known as Cyprus,Kittim · Chittim · Cyprus,western coastlands · Elishah
Cyprus is an island located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, known in the Bible by various names, including Kittim and Elishah. In the Old Testament, the island is mentioned in the context of trade and prophecy. Isaiah 23:1, 12 and Jeremiah 2:10 refer to the ships of Kittim, indicating the island's involvement in maritime trade. Ezk.27.6 mentions the use of ivory from the coasts of Elishah (possibly Cyprus) in the construction of ships.
In Numbers 24:24 and Dan.11.30, Kittim is associated with ships that come against the people of God, possibly referring to the island's role in military campaigns or as a base for hostile forces.
In the New Testament, Cyprus plays a significant role in the spread of early Christianity. The apostle Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus (Act.4.36), and some unnamed believers from the island were among the first to preach the gospel to the Gentiles in Antioch (Act.11.19-20). Barnabas and Saul (Paul) visited Cyprus during their first missionary journey (Act.13.4), where they encountered the sorcerer Elymas and converted the proconsul Sergius Paulus (Act.13.6-12).
Later, Barnabas and Mark sailed to Cyprus after a disagreement with Paul (Act.15.39). Paul also visited the island during his third missionary journey (Act.21.3) and during his journey to Rome as a prisoner (Act.27.4).
The early Christian community in Cyprus included Mnason, an early disciple who provided lodging for Paul and his companions in Jerusalem (Act.21.16).
Approximate location: 35.018, 33.208 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Part of: The Jerusalem Church
Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus, and he and Mark returned there after the split. Decades later in Jerusalem Paul stays with Mnason, a Cypriot and early disciple.
Sources: Scripture
One of the largest islands of the Mediterranean, about 148 miles long and 40 broad. It is distant about 60 miles from the Syrian coast. It was the “Chittim” of the Old Testament (Num. 24:24). The Greek colonists gave it the name of Kypros, from the cyprus, i.e., the henna (see CAMPHIRE), which grew on this island. It was originally inhabited by Phoenicians. In B.C. 477 it fell under the dominion of the Greeks; and became a Roman province B.C. 58. In ancient times it was a centre of great commercial activity. Corn and wine and oil were produced here in the greatest perfection. It was rich also in timber and in mineral wealth. It is first mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 4:36) as the native place of Barnabas. It was the scene of Paul’s first missionary labours (13:4-13), when he and Barnabas and John Mark were sent forth by the church of Antioch. It was afterwards visited by Barnabas and Mark alone (15:39). Mnason, an “old disciple,” probaly one of the converts of the day of Pentecost belonging to this island, is mentioned (21:16). It is also mentioned in connection with the voyages of Paul (Acts 21:3; 27:4). After being under the Turks for three hundred years, it was given up to the British Government in 1878.
an island of Asia in the Mediterranean. It is about 140 miles long and 50 miles wide at the widest part. Its two chief cities were Salamis, at the east end of the island, and Paphos, at the west end. “Cyprus occupies a distinguished place in both sacred and profane history. It early belonged to the Phoenicians of the neighboring coast; was afterwards colonized by Greeks’ passed successively under the power of the Pharaohs, Persians, Ptolemies and Romans, excepting a short period of independence in the fourth century B.C. It was one of the chief seats of the worship of Venus, hence called Cypria. Recently the discoveries in Cyprus by Cesnola have excited new interest.—Appleton’s Am. Encyc. It was the native place of Barnabas, (Acts 4:36) and was visited by Paul. (Acts 13:4-13; 15:39; 21:3) See also (Acts 27:4)
CY'PRUS, a large, fertile island of the Mediterranean Sea, triangular in form, 150 miles long, and from 50 to 60 miles broad. Venus was its chief goddess; hence her name Cypria. It contained two prominent cities, Salamis and Paphos, and 17 towns. Salamis was at the east and Paphos at the west end of the island. Acts 13:5. Barnabas was a native of Cyprus, and its people are noticed in apostolic history. Acts 4:36; Acts 13:4; Acts 15:39. Sergius Paulus, proconsul of Cyprus, was converted by Paul on his first missionary-tour, Acts 13:7 ff., and thus became the first Christian ruler on record. History.-Cyprus was colonized by the Phoenicians at a very early date. It was the Chittim, or Kittim, of the O.T. Num 24:24. Through Greek colonists it received the name of Kypros, perhaps from the plant cyprus (henna-Lawsonia alba. See Camphire). Copper-mining and the production of swords, armor, and other articles in bronze were its principal industries. There was also an extensive commerce. In literature, Cyprus boasted of very early distinction. Thothmes III Map of Cyprus. of Egypt conquered the island. At a later period Belus, king of Tyre, destroyed most of its cities. Sargon made it tributary to Assyria, b.c. 707; Apries, king of Egypt (the Pharaoh of Scripture), plundered it. Later, it was tributary to Darius. The Athenians and Lacedemonians conquered part of Cyprus from the Persians, b.c. 477. Alexander the Great was aided by 120 ships from this island in his siege of Tyre, b.c. 335. In b.c. 294 the island was a dependency of Egypt. Cato took possession of it for the Romans. Cicero was proconsul there, b.c. 52. The Byzantine emperors and the Arabs successively held sway. Cyprus was a frequent halting place of the Crusaders. Richard I, of England captured it in A.D. 1191, and…
CY'PRUS, a large, fertile island of the Mediterranean Sea, triangular in form, 150 miles long, and from 50 to 60 miles broad. Venus was its chief goddess; hence her name Cypria. It contained two prominent cities, Salamis and Paphos, and 17 towns. Salamis was at the east and Paphos at the west end of the island. Acts 13:5. Barnabas was a native of Cyprus, and its people are noticed in apostolic history. Acts 4:36; Acts 13:4; Acts 15:39. Sergius Paulus, proconsul of Cyprus, was converted by Paul on his first missionary-tour, Acts 13:7 ff., and thus became the first Christian ruler on record. History.-Cyprus was colonized by the Phoenicians at a very early date. It was the Chittim, or Kittim, of the O.T. Num 24:24. Through Greek colonists it received the name of Kypros, perhaps from the plant cyprus (henna-Lawsonia alba. See Camphire). Copper-mining and the production of swords, armor, and other articles in bronze were its principal industries. There was also an extensive commerce. In literature, Cyprus boasted of very early distinction. Thothmes III Map of Cyprus. of Egypt conquered the island. At a later period Belus, king of Tyre, destroyed most of its cities. Sargon made it tributary to Assyria, b.c. 707; Apries, king of Egypt (the Pharaoh of Scripture), plundered it. Later, it was tributary to Darius. The Athenians and Lacedemonians conquered part of Cyprus from the Persians, b.c. 477. Alexander the Great was aided by 120 ships from this island in his siege of Tyre, b.c. 335. In b.c. 294 the island was a dependency of Egypt. Cato took possession of it for the Romans. Cicero was proconsul there, b.c. 52. The Byzantine emperors and the Arabs successively held sway. Cyprus was a frequent halting place of the Crusaders. Richard I, of England captured it in A.D. 1191, and…
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
15 verses in 6 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H3794
Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”
This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.
He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus— even there you will find no rest.”
Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.
Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning.
Ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.
After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.