◄ 2 Chronicles 9:21 ►
Verse  (Click for Chapter)
New International Version
The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram’s servants. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

New Living Translation
The king had a fleet of trading ships of Tarshish manned by the sailors sent by Hiram. Once every three years the ships returned, loaded with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

English Standard Version
For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Berean Standard Bible
For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

King James Bible
For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

New King James Version
For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

New American Standard Bible
For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

NASB 1995
For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

NASB 1977
For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came carrying gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

Amplified Bible
For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

Christian Standard Bible
for the king’s ships kept going to Tarshish with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for the king’s ships kept going to Tarshish with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

American Standard Version
For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon had a lot of seagoing ships. Every three years he sent them out with Hiram's ships to bring back gold, silver, and ivory, as well as monkeys and peacocks.

English Revised Version
For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king had ships going to Tarshish with Huram's sailors. Once every three years the Tarshish ships would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

Good News Translation
He had a fleet of ocean-going ships sailing with King Hiram's fleet. Every three years his fleet would return, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

International Standard Version
because the king had ships that sailed to Tarshish accompanied by Hiram's servants. Once every three years ships from Tarshish returned, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Majority Standard Bible
For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

NET Bible
The king had a fleet of large merchant ships manned by Huram's men that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

New Heart English Bible
For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: once every three years came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

World English Bible
For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with Huram’s servants. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for ships of the king are going to Tarshish with servants of Huram: once in three years the ships of Tarshish come carrying gold, and silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks [[or monkeys]].

Young's Literal Translation
for ships of the king are going to Tarshish, with servants of Huram: once in three years come do the ships of Tarshish bearing gold, and silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Smith's Literal Translation
For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of huram: once to three years will come the ships to Tarshish, lifting up gold and silver and ivory, and apes and peacocks.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the king's ships went to Tharsis with the servants of Hiram, once in three years: and they brought thence gold and silver, and ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For indeed, the ships of the king went to Tarshish, with the servants of Hiram, once every three years. And they brought from there gold, and silver, and ivory, and primates, and peacocks.

New American Bible
For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish ships would come with a cargo of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

New Revised Standard Version
For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came loaded with silver and gold, elephants, apes, and peacocks.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For King Solomon had ships that were going to Tarshish with the Servants of Khiram. Once every three years they were coming, and the ships that were going to Tarshish were loaded with silver and gold and elephants and apes and peacocks.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For a ship went for the king to Tharsis with the servants of Chiram: once every three years came vessels from Tharsis to the king, laden with gold, and silver, and ivory, and apes.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Wealth and Splendor
…20All King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. 21For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 22So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.…
Berean Standard Bible · Download


Cross References
1 Kings 10:22
For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

1 Kings 9:26-28
King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. / And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants. / They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.

1 Kings 10:11-12
(The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones. / The king made the almug wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood been brought in, nor has such been seen again to this day.)

1 Kings 10:14-15
The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, / not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.

1 Kings 10:18-20
Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. / The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest. / Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

1 Kings 10:23-25
So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. / The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. / Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

1 Kings 10:27-29
The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills. / Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. / A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

Isaiah 60:9
Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring 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 glorified you.

Ezekiel 27:12
Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.

Ezekiel 27:25
The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea.

Psalm 72:10
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

Psalm 72:15
Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.

Matthew 12:42
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 11:31
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Revelation 18:11-13
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.


Treasury of Scripture

For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

1 Kings 10:22
For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

1 Kings 22:48
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

Tharshish

Job 39:13
Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

Jump to Previous
Apes Baboons Carrying Fleet Gold Hiram's Huram Ivory King's Manned Monkeys Once Peacocks Sailing Servants Ships Silver Tarshish Tarshish-Ships Three Trading Used
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Apes Baboons Carrying Fleet Gold Hiram's Huram Ivory King's Manned Monkeys Once Peacocks Sailing Servants Ships Silver Tarshish Tarshish-Ships Three Trading Used
2 Chronicles 9
1. The queen of sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon
13. Solomon's revenue in gold
15. His targets and shields
17. The throne of ivory
20. His vessels
23. His presents
25. His chariots and horse
26. His tributes
29. His reign and death














Berean Study Bible
For the king’s ships
This phrase indicates the naval prowess and extensive trade networks established during King Solomon's reign. The Hebrew word for "ships" (אֳנִיּוֹת, 'oniyyot) suggests large, sea-worthy vessels capable of long voyages. Solomon's fleet symbolizes the peak of Israel's economic and political power, reflecting God's blessing and fulfillment of His promise to make Israel a great nation.

went to Tarshish
"Tarshish" is often associated with a distant, wealthy region, possibly located in present-day Spain or the western Mediterranean. The Hebrew term (תַּרְשִׁישׁ, Tarshish) evokes images of exotic lands and riches. This journey to Tarshish underscores the far-reaching influence and ambition of Solomon's kingdom, as well as the fulfillment of God's promise to extend Israel's borders and influence.

with the servants of Huram
Huram, or Hiram, was the king of Tyre, a Phoenician city known for its skilled sailors and craftsmen. The alliance between Solomon and Huram highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in achieving mutual prosperity. This collaboration reflects the wisdom of Solomon in securing resources and expertise beyond Israel's borders, demonstrating the interconnectedness of ancient Near Eastern politics and trade.

Every three years they would return
The phrase "every three years" suggests a well-organized and regular trade route, indicative of the stability and prosperity during Solomon's reign. This triennial cycle allowed for the accumulation of wealth and resources, contributing to the grandeur of Solomon's court and the temple. It also reflects the patience and foresight required in managing long-term ventures, a testament to Solomon's wisdom.

bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks
These items represent the wealth and luxury of Solomon's kingdom. Gold and silver were symbols of wealth and divine favor, often used in temple worship and royal adornment. Ivory, apes, and peacocks, likely imported from Africa or India, signify exoticism and the extent of Solomon's trade networks. The Hebrew words for these items (זָהָב, כֶּסֶף, שֵׁן, קוֹפִים, תֻּכִּיִּים) emphasize the diversity and richness of the goods, illustrating the fulfillment of God's promise to bless Israel abundantly. This abundance serves as a reminder of the potential for prosperity when a nation follows God's statutes and wisdom.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(21) For the king's ships went to Tarshish.--1Kings 10:22, "For the king had a Tarshish fleet on the sea, with the fleet of Hiram." It is generally assumed that the words of the chronicler are an erroneous paraphrase of the expression, "Tarshish fleet," i.e., a fleet of ships fitted for long voyages. (Comp. Isaiah 2:16.) The identity of the present fleet with that mentioned above in 2Chronicles 9:10 is not evident. Solomon may have had a fleet in the Mediterranean ("the sea" of 1Kings 10:22) trading westward, as well as in the Red Sea, trading south and east. Some have identified Tarshish with Cape Tarsis in the Persian Gulf. (See Note on 2Chronicles 20:36.)

Pulpit Commentary
Verse 21. - To Tarshish. The parallel has, in both clauses of its verse (1 Kings 10:22), "ships of Tarshish." The order of the words in the former clause of our present verse, that compels us to read, "going to Tarshish," certifies the correct meaning. The word "Tarshish" (the subsequent Tartessus) covered a district in South Spain, as well as named a town and river, and stretched opposite the coast of Africa. Both coasts were beneath Phoenician rule, and a voyage to Tarshish would most naturally mean calling at many a port, and many an African port, from one and another of which all the imports here spoken of would be obtainable. The meaning of the Hebrew root of Tarshish is "to subjugate." The town lay between the two mouths of the river Baetis, now Guadal-quiver. Gesenius thinks that the writer of Chronicles says, in ignorance, "to Tarshish." and that the ships went to Ophir! These passages do not say that the voyage, whatever it was, took three years; much less that that length of time was necessary. Whether voyages were in Solomon's time made from the Red Sea, circumnavigating Africa, into the Mediterranean, is not certain. If they were such voyages, taken at a sauntering pace, with calls at many ports and easygoing delays, they may easily have consumed as long a space of time as three years! The theory that Tarshish was Tarsus in Cilicia is easily and conclusively negatived. The names in Hebrew of "ivory, apes, and peacocks" have been said to be of Indian origin. This is far from proved, and, as regards the first two, may be said to be sufficiently disproved. But if it all were so, still the fact that the Hebrew names were of an Indian language derivation would go very short way to prove that the Hebrew people got the things represented by them direct, or at all, from India. Ivory; Hebrew, שֶׁנְחַבִּים. The Authorized Version rendering "ivory" occurs ten times in the Old Testament, having for its original the Hebrew שֵׁן (1 Kings 10:18; 1 Kings 22:39; 2 Chronicles 9:17; Psalm 45:8; Song of Solomon 5:14; Song of Solomon 7:4; Ezekiel 27:6, 15; Amos 3:15; Amos 6:4). In all these cases, two of them being in closest juxtaposition with the present and its parallel occasion, the word speaks of ivory that is being used, i.e. as though it were manufactured material or ready for manufacture. But in our passage and its parallel, where the different word given above is found, it is manifest that it speaks of the material, so to say, in the rough, as just "tooth or tusk of ?;" but, further, what the חַבִּים is is not yet ascertained. It is not a word known in the Hebrew vocabulary. Gesenius finds the Sanscrit ibhas, which signifies an "elephant;" Canon Rawlinsen finds in some Assyrian inscriptions a word habba, used of both elephant and camel, but probably having for its generic signification "a great animal;" Keil (on the parallel) finds a Coptic word, eboy, the Latin elephas, to which he prefixes the Hebrew article ה. The Targum Jonathan shows at once שְֵׁןאּדּפִיל. Gesenius, in his 'Thesaurus,' calls also timely attention to Ezekiel 27:15, where we read, "They brought thee a present, horns of ivory and ebony" (Hebrew, Chethiv, וְהָובְנִים; Keri, קַרְנות שֵׁן וְהָבְנִים). But no use of "ebony" happens to be mentioned in the connection of our present passages or subject. Thus it will be seen that no little ingenuity has been employed to hunt down this little word, though as yet not quite successfully. More may be seen in Smith's 'Dictionary of the Bible,' 1:906. Apes; Hebrew, קופִים. Conder ('Handbook to the Bible,' 2nd edit., p. 390) says, "This word is identical with the name of the monkey in Tamil." Keil connects it with the Sanscrit kapi, but does not believe, with Gesenius, that the animal came from India, but Ethiopia. In a valuable note in the' Speaker's Commentary' we read, "It is found" (not stated where) "that the word was an Egyptian word, signifying a kind of monkey, in use in the time of Thothmes II., i.e. about the time of the Israelites' exodus." (For Herodotus's testimony respecting ivory and apes in North Africa, see his 'Hist.,' 4:91.) Peacocks; Hebrew, תֻּכִּיִּים. Conder ('Handbook to the Bible,' p. 393') says a Tamil word, tokei, means "peacock." Keil proposes to consider it one of the later Romans' luxurious delicacies, aves Numidicae, from Tuoca, a town in Mauretania or Numi-alia. Some translate it "guinea-fowl," and some "parrots." The peacock did not belong to Africa, yet still it may have been purchaseable at some port there.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the king had
לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (lam·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

the ships
אֳנִיּ֤וֹת (’o·nî·yō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 591: A ship

of Tarshish
תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ (tar·šîš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8659: Tarshish -- a son of Javan, also a port on the Mediterranean, also a Benjamite

that went
הֹלְכ֣וֹת (hō·lə·ḵō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with
עִ֖ם (‘im)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

Hiram’ s
חוּרָ֑ם (ḥū·rām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2361: Huram -- a Benjamite, also two Arameans (Syrians)

servants,
עַבְדֵ֣י (‘aḇ·ḏê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

and once
אַחַת֩ (’a·ḥaṯ)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

every three
לְשָׁל֨וֹשׁ (lə·šā·lō·wōš)
Preposition-l | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

years
שָׁנִ֜ים (šā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

the ships
אֳנִיּ֣וֹת (’o·nî·yō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 591: A ship

of Tarshish
תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ (tar·šîš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8659: Tarshish -- a son of Javan, also a port on the Mediterranean, also a Benjamite

would arrive
תָּב֣וֹאנָה ׀ (tā·ḇō·w·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

bearing
נֹֽשְׂאוֹת֙ (nō·śə·’ō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

gold,
זָהָ֣ב (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

silver,
וָכֶ֔סֶף (wā·ḵe·sep̄)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

ivory,
שֶׁנְהַבִּ֥ים (šen·hab·bîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8143: Probably, tooth of elephants, ivory tusk

apes,
וְקוֹפִ֖ים (wə·qō·w·p̄îm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6971: A monkey

and peacocks.
וְתוּכִּיִּֽים׃ (wə·ṯū·kî·yîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8500: Of foreign derivation, some imported creature, a peacock


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 9:21 For the king had ships that went (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 9:20
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