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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Island; Isle
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ı̄´land, ı̄l ((1) ××™, 'ı̄, “island†or “isleâ€; the American Standard Revised Version has “coast†or “coast-land†in ; , ; the Revised Version margin has “coast-lands†in ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; the Revised Version margin has “sea-coast†in . (2) plural ××™Ö¼×™×, 'ı̄yı̄m, the King James Version “wild beasts of the islands,†the Revised Version (British and American) “wolves,†the Revised Version margin “howling creatures†(; ; ). (3) νησιÌον, neÌ„sıÌon, “small island†() (4) νῆσος, neÌ„Ìsos, “island†(; ; , , , ; ; ; )): Except as noted above, , 'ı̄ in the Revised Version (British and American) is translated “isle†or “island.†ARVAD (which see), a Phoenician island-city North of Tripoli, Syria, is mentioned in ; ; , . This and Tyre were the only important islands on the coast, both of them very small. We find references to Kittim or Chittim, Cyprus (; ; ; , ; ; ; ); to Elisha, perhaps Carthage (; ; ); to “isles of the nations†(; ); to “isles of the sea†(; ; ; ); to “Tarshish and the isles†(; compare ); to “isle (the Revised Version margin “sea-coastâ€) of Caphtor†(). Communication with these islands or distant coasts is kept up by the Tyrians (, ). The Jews were not a maritime people, and in early times their geographical knowledge was very limited. Of 32 Old Testament passages referring to “island†or “isle,†25 are in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. In the New Testament, besides the passages noted above, and Patmos (), various islands are mentioned by name in connection with the voyages of Paul, e.g. Cyprus, Crete, Lesbos, Samos, Samothrace, Chios, Melita, Sicily (Syracuse, ). “Jackals†is a perfectly possible translation of 'ı̄yı̄m (the King James Version “wild beasts of the islands,†the Revised Version (British and American) “wolves,†the Revised Version margin “howling creaturesâ€). See COAST; GEOGRAPHY; JACKAL; WOLF.