Bible Dictionary
Island
Island in biblical usage can mean an actual island or, more broadly, a habitable maritime region or coastland. The term often refers to lands around the Mediterranean Sea.
Definition
An island ordinarily means dry land surrounded by water. In biblical usage, however, the term also denotes a maritime region, sea-coast, or inhabited land associated with the sea. It may therefore describe actual islands as well as continental shores and coastal districts.
Biblical Usage
The Bible speaks of the “islands of the sea,” the “isles of the Gentiles,” and simply “isles.” The term is used for Mediterranean shores and coastlands, including places associated with Chittim, and may be translated “coastland” in some passages.
Historical Background
The expression particularly concerns the shores and maritime regions around the Mediterranean Sea. It is contrasted with water and may carry the broader sense of habitable land by the sea.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. ‘i, “dry land,” as opposed to water) occurs in its usual signification (Isa. 42:4, 10, 12, 15, comp. Jer. 47:4), but more frequently simply denotes a maritime region or sea-coast (Isa. 20:6, R.V.,” coastland;” 23:2, 6; Jer. 2:10; Ezek. 27:6, 7). (See CHITTIM.) The shores of the Mediterranean are called the “islands of the sea” (Isa. 11:11), or the “isles of the Gentiles” (Gen. 10:5), and sometimes simply “isles” (Ps. 72:10); Ezek. 26:15, 18; 27:3, 35; Dan. 11:18).