The term "sea-coast" in the Bible refers to the regions adjacent to the sea, often characterized by their strategic importance for trade, military defense, and cultural exchange. The sea-coast is frequently mentioned in the context of the ancient Near East, particularly in relation to the Mediterranean Sea, which was a central body of water for the biblical world.

Geographical Significance:

The sea-coast of the Mediterranean, known as the Great Sea in biblical times, was home to several significant cities and peoples. The Philistines, for example, occupied the coastal region of Canaan, with cities such as Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ashdod. This area was known for its fertile land and access to maritime trade routes.

Biblical References:

1. Philistine Territory: The Philistines are often associated with the sea-coast. In Joshua 13:2-3 , the land that remained to be conquered included "all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites, from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite; the territory of the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron."

2. Prophetic Warnings: The prophets frequently issued warnings against the coastal cities due to their idolatry and opposition to Israel. Zephaniah 2:5-6 declares, "Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: 'I will destroy you, and no one will be left.' The seacoast will become pastures with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep."

3. Trade and Commerce: The sea-coast was vital for trade. Ezekiel 27:3-4 speaks of Tyre, a prominent coastal city, saying, "You say, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’ Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty."

Cultural and Historical Context:

The sea-coast was a melting pot of cultures due to its accessibility and the movement of peoples. The Phoenicians, known for their seafaring skills, established a network of trade across the Mediterranean, influencing the cultures and economies of the region. The coastal cities were often centers of wealth and power, but they also faced threats from invaders and natural disasters.

Spiritual Lessons:

The biblical narrative often uses the sea-coast as a backdrop for lessons on faithfulness and judgment. The prosperity of the coastal cities is contrasted with their moral and spiritual decline, serving as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. The prophets' messages to these regions underscore the importance of obedience and the inevitability of divine justice.

In summary, the sea-coast in the Bible is a region of both opportunity and challenge, reflecting the broader themes of human ambition, divine sovereignty, and the call to righteousness.3882. paralios -- by the sea, the sea coast
... by the sea, the sea coast. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: paralios Phonetic
Spelling: (par-al'-ee-os) Short Definition: on the coast Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3882.htm - 6k

123. aigialos -- the seashore
... the seashore. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: aigialos Phonetic
Spelling: (ahee-ghee-al-os') Short Definition: sea-coast, beach Definition: sea ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/123.htm - 6k

2658. katantao -- to come down to, reach
... an-tah'-o) Short Definition: I come down, arrive at, reach Definition: (a) I come
down, either from high land to lower (or actually to the sea-coast), or from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2658.htm - 7k

1048. Gaza -- Gaza, a Philistine city
... Feminine Transliteration: Gaza Phonetic Spelling: (gad'-zah) Short Definition: Gaza
Definition: Gaza, an old town in the south of Palestine, on the sea-coast. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1048.htm - 6k

3864. parathalassios -- by the sea
... by the sea. From para and thalassa; along the sea, ie Maritime (lacustrine) --
upon the sea coast. see GREEK para. see GREEK thalassa. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3864.htm - 6k

2609. katago -- to bring down
... Definition: I lead down, bring down Definition: I lead down, bring down, either
from a high place on land or to a lower (or actually to the sea-coast), or from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2609.htm - 7k

2348. choph -- shore, coast
... 2347, 2348. choph. 2349 . shore, coast. Transliteration: choph Phonetic
Spelling: (khofe) Short Definition: seacoast. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2348.htm - 6k

2256a. chebel -- cord, territory, band
... 2), line (4), lines (2), measurement (1), measuring line (1), noose (1), portion
(3), portions (2), region (5), rope (1), ropes (7), seacoast* (2), tackle (1). ...
/hebrew/2256a.htm - 5k

3220. yam -- sea
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition sea NASB Word Usage red* (24), sea
(278), seacoast* (5), seas (27), seashore (1), seashore* (9), south (1), west ...
/hebrew/3220.htm - 6k

A Description of the Sea-Coast, Out of Pliny and Strabo.
... A Chorographical Century. Chapters 1-10 Chapter 10 A Description of the
Sea-coast, out of Pliny and Strabo. "Idumea and Palestine ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 10 a description of.htm

Letter cciii. To the Bishops of the Sea Coast.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CCIII. To the bishops
of the sea coast. I have had a strong desire to meet ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cciii to the bishops.htm

"Three Years Ago, Sulpitius, at which Time, Leaving this ...
... About three miles from the sea-coast, I beheld a small hut in the midst of the sand,
the roof of which, to use the expression [86] of Sallust, was like the ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter iii three years ago.htm

Introduction
... But besides mountains there were fertile plains and valleys, while on the sea-coast
there were harbours, ill adapted, it is true, to the requirements of modern ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/introduction.htm

Concerning the Wife of Solomon; Concerning his Wisdom and Riches ...
... who married Solomon's daughter, had the region of Dora and the sea-coast under him ...
of Solomon's, whose name was Basima; Banacates had the seacoast about Arce ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 concerning the wife.htm

Shod for the Road
... by the mention of the foot is carried on into the next words, 'Thy shoes shall be
iron and brass,' the tribe being located upon rocky sea-coast, having rough ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/shod for the road.htm

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
... and was a very delicate evergreen, easily destroyed by cold (Psalm 78:47), and growing
only in the Jordan valley, or in Lower Galilee up to the sea-coast. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 3 in galilee at.htm

The Heart of the Gospel
... A certain man who owned a vessel went down to the sea coast, and there he noticed
many hungry people straining their eyes toward the sea, watching for the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the heart of the gospel.htm

On a Piece of Chalk. A Lecture to Working Men.
... whole county of Norfolk, the well-sinker might carry his shaft down many hundred
feet without coming to the end of the chalk; and, on the sea-coast, where the ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/ix on a piece of.htm

At the Foot of the Bamboos
... Thus on entering the harbor from Quemoy and other islands, near the mouth of the
harbor or from the cities and villages on the seacoast, the first foreign ...
//christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/v at the foot of.htm

Seacoast (7 Occurrences)
...Seacoast (7 Occurrences). ... O inhabitants of the sea-coast, Nation of the Cherethites,
A word of Jehovah 'is' against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines, And I ...
/s/seacoast.htm - 8k

Sea-coast (5 Occurrences)
Sea-coast. Seacoast, Sea-coast. Sea-eagle . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See JPS
ASV DBY YLT). Seacoast, Sea-coast. Sea-eagle . Reference Bible.
/s/sea-coast.htm - 7k

Island (16 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 47:4), but more frequently simply denotes a maritime region or sea-coast
(Isaiah 20:6, RV, " coastland;23:2, 6; Jeremiah 2:10; Ezek. ...
/i/island.htm - 16k

Cherethites (11 Occurrences)
... in "the land of the Philistines," "the inhabitants of the seacoast." Septuagint
in ... I will cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. ...
/c/cherethites.htm - 11k

Coast (70 Occurrences)
... paralios, literally, "by the sea" (Luke 6:17)): "Coast" (from Latin costa, "rib"
or "side") in the sense of "seacoast," occurs but a few times in the Bible. ...
/c/coast.htm - 31k

Isle (15 Occurrences)
... Genesis 10:5 Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 24:15; Isaiah 59:18 Jeremiah 25:22 Ezekiel
39:6 Daniel 11:18; Ze 2:11; the Revised Version margin has "sea-coast" in Jeremiah ...
/i/isle.htm - 15k

Philippi (8 Occurrences)
... But in order to distinguish it from the Caesarea on the seacoast, he added to it ...
Pangaeus, including the Philippian plain and the seacoast about Neapolis. ...
/p/philippi.htm - 36k

Judaea (45 Occurrences)
... The seacoast also as far north as Ptolemais (`Akka), except Jamnia, Joppa and
(according ... people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre ...
/j/judaea.htm - 24k

Great (10383 Occurrences)
... He began his march southward along the seacoast of Syria toward Egypt,
a country that had always impressed the Greek imagination. ...
/g/great.htm - 35k

Philistines (224 Occurrences)
... 5. History in the Old Testament until Death of Saul: The Philistines conquered the
"downs" (geliloth, Joel 3:4) near the seacoast, and were so powerful at the ...
/p/philistines.htm - 75k

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