Chittim

 

Chit'tim. (bruisers). A family or race descended from Javan. Gen_10:4; 1Ch_1:7. Authorized Version, Kittim. Chittim is frequently noticed in Scripture. Num_24:24; Isa_23:1; Isa_23:12; Jer_2:10; Eze_27:6; Dan_11:30.

In the above passages, the "isles of Chittim," the "ships of Chittim", the "coasts of Chittim," are supposed to refer to the island of Cyprus. Josephus considered Cyprus, the original seat of the Chittim. The name Chittim, which in the first instance, had implied to Phoenicians only, passed over to the islands which they had occupied, and thence, to the people who succeeded the Phoenicians in the occupation of them.

 

Source:  Smith’s Bible Dictionary

 

Chittim

 

kit´im. See KITTIM.

 

Source:  International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

 

Kittim

 

kit´im (כּתּים, kittīm, Isa_23:12; Jer_2:10; כּתּ׃יּים, kittīyīm, apparently plural of kittī (not found, but compare (4) below); Κήτιοι, Kḗtioi, Κίτιοι, Kítioi, Κητιείμ, Kētieím, Jer_2:10; Χεττιείμ, Chettieím, Χεττιείν, Chetteín):

 

Source:  International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

 

Chittim

 

Or Kittim, a plural form (Gen_10:4), the name of a branch of the descendants of Javan, the “son” of Japheth. Balaam foretold (Num_24:24) “that ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and afflict Eber.” Daniel prophesied (Dan_11:30) that the ships of Chittim would come against the king of the north. It probably denotes Cyprus, whose ancient capital was called Kition by the Greeks.

The references elsewhere made to Chittim (Isa_23:1, Isa_23:12; Jer_2:10; Eze_27:6) are to be explained on the ground that while the name originally designated the Phoenicians only, it came latterly to be used of all the islands and various settlements on the sea-coasts which they had occupied, and then of the people who succeeded them when the Phoenician power decayed. Hence it designates generally the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean and the races that inhabit them.

 

Source:  Easton’s Bible Dictionary