Who was Kittim in the bible?

Kittim is a biblical name used both as a personal name in genealogies and as a place/people-group designation associated (by lexicon gloss) with Cyprus and, more broadly, “islanders” such as Greeks or Romans along the coasts opposite Palestine. In Scripture, Kittim appears as a descendant listed among the “sons of Javan” and as “the islands of Kittim” from which ships come and to which people may flee or look for evidence.

Kittim in Scripture

Kittim first appears as a named descendant within the table of peoples connected to Javan.

“The sons of Javan were: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.” (Genesis 10:4, WEB)

A parallel genealogy in Chronicles repeats the same placement of Kittim among Javan’s sons, within a longer chain that begins with Adam and proceeds through Noah and his sons. The immediate setting shows the Chronicler’s broad genealogical sweep through “the sons of Japheth” and their lines.

“The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.” (1 Chronicles 1:5, WEB)

“The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.” (1 Chronicles 1:7, WEB)

Within the same chapter, the genealogy keeps moving through other family lines and peoples, tracing names from Shem and Ham as well, and continuing down through many branches until it reaches Abraham’s line, the lines of Ishmael and Keturah, and finally Esau and the chiefs and kings of Edom. This placement frames Kittim as one item in a comprehensive catalog of descendants: “Adam, Seth, Enosh,” (1 Chronicles 1:1) continuing through “Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” (1 Chronicles 1:4)

Outside these genealogies, Kittim is used geographically as “islands,” and appears in prophetic oracles and pronouncements. Jeremiah calls his hearers to look outward in search of a comparable event, using Kittim as a representative western island destination. The verse pairs Kittim with Kedar as two points of inquiry.

“For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.” (Jeremiah 2:10, WEB)

Isaiah speaks a direct command to the “oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon,” urging her to cross to Kittim and warning that even there she will not find repose.

“He said, ‘You shall rejoice no more, you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Kittim. Even there you will have no rest.’” (Isaiah 23:12, WEB)

Ezekiel uses “the islands of Kittim” as a source location in a description of craftsmanship and trade materials. In the imagery, timber and luxury materials are brought together: oars, benches, ivory, and inlaid wood “from the islands of Kittim.”

“They have made your oars of the oaks of Bashan. They have made your benches of ivory inlaid in cypress wood from the islands of Kittim.” (Ezekiel 27:6, WEB)

In Numbers, Kittim appears within an oracle that envisions maritime power and affliction reaching named peoples. The utterance focuses on “ships” from Kittim’s coast and the consequences that follow for Asshur and Eber, ending with destruction for the aggressor (“He also shall come to destruction”).

“But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.” (Numbers 24:24, WEB)

Daniel likewise mentions “ships of Kittim,” but here as a force opposing “him,” producing grief, return, indignation “against the holy covenant,” and renewed attention to “those who forsake the holy covenant.” The verse ties Kittim’s ships to a turning point in the unnamed ruler’s actions.

“For ships of Kittim will come against him. Therefore he will be grieved, and will return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and will take action. He will even return, and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant.” (Daniel 11:30, WEB)

Multiple Uses

The name Kittim is used in more than one way in these passages. First, it appears as an individual listed among “the sons of Javan” in genealogical records (Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7). Second, it appears as a plural geographic/ethnic expression—“the islands of Kittim” and “the coast of Kittim”—associated with ships and seafaring movement (Jeremiah 2:10; Isaiah 23:12; Ezekiel 27:6; Numbers 24:24; Daniel 11:30). In these latter passages Kittim functions as a distant maritime reference point: a place to which one may “pass over,” a place that supplies materials, and a coastline from which “ships” come to oppose or afflict others.

Name and Meaning

In Hebrew the name is written כִּתִּי, transliterated Kittiy, pronounced kit-tee’. Lexicon information derives it as a patrial form from an unused name denoting Cyprus (noted as used only in the plural), and glosses its sense as a Kittite or Cypriote—hence an “islander” in a more general sense, applied to Greeks or Romans on the shores opposite Palestine.

Observation

Across these passages Kittim links genealogy and geography: it is both a named descendant among “the sons of Javan” (Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7) and a distant maritime point from which “ships” come and to which people may be told to “pass over” (Numbers 24:24; Isaiah 23:12; Daniel 11:30).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Kittim mean?

Kittim means a Kittite or Cypriote. It can also refer more broadly to an islander in general, including Greeks or Romans on shores opposite Palestine.

How many times does Kittim appear in the Bible?

Kittim appears 7 times.

Who was Kittim?

Kittim is listed as one of the sons of Javan (Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7). The term is also used for the islands of Kittim and for island peoples in general.

What are “ships of Kittim” in the Bible?

Daniel 11:30 says, “For ships of Kittim will come against him.” Numbers 24:24 also says ships will come from the coast of Kittim.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Kittim interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).