Tarshish, a distant maritime city known for its ships, wealth, and trade, possibly located in southern Spain (1Kgs. 10:22; Isa. 23:1; Jonah 1:3).
Also known as trading
Tarshish was a distant maritime city or region mentioned in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. It was known for its ships, which were used in long-distance trade (1Kgs. 10:22; 2Chr. 9:21). The "ships of Tarshish" became a symbol of wealth and commercial power (Isa. 2:16; 23:1, 14; 60:9; Ezek. 27:25). Tarshish was a source of silver, iron, tin, and lead (Jer. 10:9; Ezek. 27:12). It was also associated with other distant and exotic locations, such as Sheba and Seba (Ps. 72:10). The exact location of Tarshish is uncertain, but many scholars believe it was situated in southern Spain, possibly near the ancient Phoenician colony of Tartessus. In the book of Jonah, the prophet attempts to flee from God's presence by sailing to Tarshish, emphasizing its distance from Israel (Jonah 1:3). The wealth and splendor of Tarshish are used as a metaphor for God's judgment (Isa. 23:6, 10; Ezek. 38:13). Despite its prominence, Tarshish would ultimately be subject to God's sovereignty (Ps. 48:7).
Approximate location: 36.953, -6.379 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
20 verses in 7 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H8659
For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiramʼs fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.
For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiramʼs servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber.
Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.
With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
against every ship of Tarshish, and against every stately vessel.
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.
Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coastland!
Cultivate your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer a harbor.
Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your harbor has been destroyed!
Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.
Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz— the work of a craftsman from the hands of a goldsmith. Their clothes are blue and purple, all fashioned by skilled workers.
Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.
The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea.
Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will ask, ‘Have you come to capture the plunder? Have you assembled your hordes to carry away loot, to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and goods, to seize great spoil?’
Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.
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.