Islands mentioned in the Bible

Book, Chapter, Verse	Full Text Reference
Genesis 10:5	“From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.”
1 Chronicles 1:10	“The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.”
Esther 10:1	“King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea.”
Psalms 72:10	“May the kings of Tarshish and of the islands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!”
Psalms 97:1	“The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad!”
Isaiah 11:11	“In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.”
Isaiah 13:22	“Hyenas will cry in her towers, and jackals in her pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, and her days will not be prolonged.”
Isaiah 20:6	“In that day the people who live on this coast will say, ‘See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?'”
Isaiah 23:2	“Be silent, you people of the island and you merchants of Sidon, whom the seafarers have enriched.”
Isaiah 23:6	“Cross over to Tarshish; wail, you people of the island.”
Isaiah 24:15	“Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.”
Isaiah 40:15	“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.”
Isaiah 41:1	“Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.”
Isaiah 41:5	“The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward.”
Isaiah 42:4	“He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”
Isaiah 42:10	“Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.”
Isaiah 42:12	“Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands.”
Isaiah 49:1	“Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.”
Isaiah 51:5	“My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.”
Isaiah 59:18	“According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due.”
Isaiah 60:9	“Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Isaiah 66:19	“I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.”
Jeremiah 2:10	“Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this.”
Jeremiah 25:22	“All the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea;”
Jeremiah 31:10	“Hear the word of the LORD, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’”
Ezekiel 26:15	“This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands tremble at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan and the slaughter takes place in you?”
Ezekiel 26:18	“Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall; the islands in the sea are terrified at your collapse.”
Ezekiel 27:3	“Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You say, Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’”
Ezekiel 27:6	“They made your oars of oaks from Bashan; they made your deck of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus. Inlaid with ivory, fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt was your sail.”
Ezekiel 27:7	“Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail and served as your banner; your awnings were of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah.”
Ezekiel 27:15	“The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.”
Ezekiel 27:35	“All who live in the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with horror and their faces are distorted with fear.”

The biblical references to islands and coastlands that could be connected to Greek mythology and the legends of Atlantis are primarily those that mention distant and possibly mythical lands. Here are some key connections:

1. Isaiah 66:19

• Text: “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.”
• Connection: This verse mentions Greece and “distant islands,” which could be interpreted as referencing far-off, possibly mythical lands in the Greek imagination. The mention of distant, unknown islands aligns with the idea of legendary places like Atlantis, which was said to be a powerful and advanced civilization that existed far beyond the known world.

2. Ezekiel 27:15

• Text: “The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.”
• Connection: Rhodes is a significant location in Greek mythology, often associated with Helios, the sun god. While not directly connected to Atlantis, Rhodes was considered one of the prominent islands of the ancient Greek world and could symbolize the far-reaching influence of ancient maritime powers, similar to the legendary Atlantis.

3. Ezekiel 27:3

• Text: “Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You say, Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’”
• Connection: Tyre was a major Phoenician port city with extensive maritime connections. The description of Tyre as a “gateway to the sea” and its trade with “many coasts” can evoke the idea of powerful, seafaring civilizations like those described in the Atlantis legend. The Phoenicians themselves were known for their explorations and could be seen as historical counterparts to the mythical Atlanteans.

4. Isaiah 23:6

• Text: “Cross over to Tarshish; wail, you people of the island.”
• Connection: Tarshish is often considered a distant and wealthy land in the Bible, and its exact location is debated, with some speculating it could be in the western Mediterranean. The mysterious nature of Tarshish and its association with distant islands might parallel the mythical Atlantis, which was also described as a distant, prosperous island civilization.

Greek Mythology and Atlantis:

The legends of Atlantis, as described by Plato in his dialogues “Timaeus” and “Critias,” describe a powerful island nation that existed beyond the “Pillars of Hercules” (modern Strait of Gibraltar) and was eventually destroyed by a cataclysmic event. While the Bible does not directly mention Atlantis, the idea of distant, powerful islands mentioned in biblical texts could be seen as resonating with the myth of Atlantis, particularly in the context of ancient civilizations known for their maritime prowess and wealth.