Islands in the Bible

Hebrew: אִי —transliteration: i —meaning: coast, coastlands, region and sometimes island

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. —Isaiah 11:11 KJV

The more accurate translation here is “coastlands of the sea,” as in the Legacy Standard Bible.

Then it will be in that day, that the Lord
Will again acquire the second time with His hand
The remnant of His people, who will remain,
From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Shinar, Hamath,
And from the coastlands of the sea. —Isaiah 11:11 LSB

This word occurs in its usual signification (Isaiah 42:4, 10, 12, 15, compare Jeremiah 47:4), but more frequently simply denotes a maritime region or seacoast (Isaiah 20:6, Revised King James Version, “coastland;” 23:2, 6; Jeremiah 2:10; Ezek. 27:6, 7). (See Chittim.)

The shores of the Mediterranean are called the “islands of the sea” (Isaiah 11:11), or the “isles of the Gentiles” (Genesis 10:5), and sometimes simply “isles” (Psalm 72:10); Ezek. 26:15, 18; 27:3, 35; Dan. 11:18).

True islands mentioned in Scripture

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Article Version: June 15, 2024