Tarshish

Possibly the city Tarsus

Tarshish

Tarshish is a location mentioned in the Book of Mormon only in the context of a prophecy about the Day of the Lord. It appears in 2 Nephi 12:16, which is a quotation from Isaiah 2:16 in the Old Testament, referring to the pride and wealth of nations that will be humbled at the time of God’s judgment. The passage reads: “And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.” In the Old Testament, Tarshish is associated with distant and wealthy locations accessible by sea (e.g., 1 Kings 10:22; 22:48; Jeremiah 10:9; Ezekiel 27:12), often suggesting a place rich in material goods and engaged in extensive maritime trade. While the exact geographical location of Tarshish is uncertain, it is often thought to be located far from the land of Israel, attested by its connection with large seafaring vessels known as “ships of Tarshish,” which represented the pinnacle of ancient maritime technology and capacity for long-distance voyages. Tarshish’s inclusion in the prophecy parallels the Old Testament usage, highlighting the comprehensive nature of divine judgment, extending to even the most distant and prosperous of places.

Map

❮ Back