Kittim

kit ́im (כּתּים, kittīm, Isaiah 23:12; Jeremiah 2:10; כּתּ׃יּים, kittīyīm, apparently plural of kittī (not found, but compare (4) below); Κήτιοι, Kḗtioi, Κίτιοι, Kítioi, Κητιείμ, Kētieím, Jeremiah 2:10; Χεττιείμ, Chettieím, Χεττιείν, Chetteín):

In Genesis 10:4 the word is applied to the descendants of Javan, and indicates, therefore, the Greek-Latin races, whose territory extended along the coasts of the Mediterranean, and included its islands. By the side of Kittim are mentioned Elisha, Tarshish, and Dodanim ( = Rodanim of 1 Chronicles 1:7), generally explained respectively as Sicily with Southern Italy, Spain and Rhodes. In its narrower sense Kittim appears simply to have stood for the island of Cyprus—it is mentioned between Bashan ( = Pal) and the isles of Elisha in Ezekiel 27:6-7, and with this Isaiah 23:1,12 agree, Kittim occurring in these passages between Tarshish, Tyre and Sidon.

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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia

Keywords: Kittim, Cyprus, Cyprian, Javan, Kition, Cypriot, Chittim, isles of Kittim, islands

Bible reference(s): Genesis 10:4, Numbers 24:24, 1 Chronicles 1:7, Isaiah 23:1, Isaiah 23:12, Jeremiah 2:10, Ezekiel 27:6, Daniel 11:30

Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.

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