Bible Dictionary
Tiras
Tiras was a son of Japheth and grandson of Noah listed among the ancestors of nations after the Flood. Its later identification is uncertain.
Definition
Tiras was the youngest son of Japheth and is listed among the ancestors of nations after the Flood. Its later identification is uncertain.
Biblical Usage
It appears only in the genealogical lists of Genesis and Chronicles.
Historical Background
Ancient commentators associated the name with the Thracians, while other proposals connected it with the Tursenioi, Etruscans, or Tarshish. The supplied material does not establish the identification.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The youngest of the sons of Japheth (Gen. 10:2; 1 Chr. 1:5).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ti'-ras (tirac; Theiras, Lucian Thiras): A son of Japheth (Ge 10:2 (P); 1Ch 1:5). Not mentioned elsewhere; this name was almost unanimously taken by the ancient commentators (so Josephus, Ant, I, vi, 1) to be the same as that of the Thracians (Thrakes); but the removal of the nominative ending -s does away with this surface resemblance. Tuch was the first to suggest the Tursenioi, a race of Pelasgian pirates, who left many traces of their ancient power in the islands and coasts of the Aegean, and who were doubtless identical with the Etruscans of Italy. This brilliant suggestion has since been confirmed by the discovery of the name Turusa among the seafaring peoples who invaded Egypt in the reign of Merenptah (W.M. Muller, AE, 356 ff). Tiras has also been regarded as the same as Tarshish.</p><p>Horace J. Wolf</p>