Places in the Bible Today:

Tarshish 1

Data

Translated NameTarshish
Typesisland, region, or settlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

9 Possible Identifications

  1. another name for Tartessos (ancient): 45% confidence

    1. natural area at HuelvaHuelva

  2. Sardinia (modern): 20% confidence

    1. panorama of cliffs on SardiniaSardinia

  3. another name for Carthage (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. ruins at CarthageCarthage

  4. not a proper name (name for an ore-producing region or an undefined far-off place): less than 10% confidence
  5. Cádiz (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. cityscape of CádizCádiz

  6. another name for Tarsus (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. gate at TarsusTarsus

  7. another name for Cyprus (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of the coast of CyprusCyprus

  8. another name for Rhodes 2 (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. coastline of RhodesRhodes

  9. another name for Etruria (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of a natural area in EtruriaEtruria

Verses (16)

1Sam-Esth (3)
2Chr 9:21, 20:36, 20:37
Job-Mal (13)
Ps 72:10
Isa 23:1, 23:6, 23:10, 23:14, 66:19
Jer 10:9
Ezek 10:9, 27:12, 27:25, 38:13
Jonah 1:3, 4:2

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookTarshish (port city)
OpenBible.info (2007)Tarshish
OpenBible.infoa5f43dd (Tarshish 1)
TIPNRTarshish@1Ki.10.22
WikidataQ44826

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992)
  2. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land (1990)
  3. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Tarshish
  4. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  5. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)
  6. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): 2Kgs 22:48-49 note; 2Kgs 22:48-49 note; Isa 23:1 note; 2Kgs 22:48-49 note; Jer 10:9
  7. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Tarshish
  8. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011)
  9. Hartley, Genesis (2000): 10:4 note
  10. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  11. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979)
  12. IVP Atlas of Bible History (2006): Tarshish
  13. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 2Chr 9:21; 2Chr 9:21; Jonah 1:3; Ezek 27:12
  14. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016)
  15. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Tarshish
  16. New Bible Dictionary (1996)
  17. Revised Expositor’s Bible Commentary (2012): Jonah 1:1
  18. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001)
  19. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Tarshish
  20. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975)
  21. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  22. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): 1Kgs 10:22; Jer 10:9; 1Kgs 10:22; Jer 10:9; Jonah 1:3; Jonah 1:3

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Places with Similar Names

Thumbnail Image Credits

Juan José Rodríguez, Isiwal, Calips, Diego Delso, Nedim Ardoğa, Deensel, Karelj, iguagua

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.