Reference: Isle, Island
American
The Hebrew word which is more commonly translated isle, means strictly dry land, habitable country, in opposition to water, or to seas and rivers, Isa 42:15. Compare Isa 50:2. Hence, as opposed to water in general, it means land adjacent to water, either washed or surrounded by it, that is, maritime country, coast, island. Thus it means coast, when used of Ashdod, Isa 20:6; of Tyre, Isa 23:2,6; of Peloponnesus, or Greece, Eze 27:7; "the isles of Elishah." It means island when used of Caphtor, for example, or Crete, Jer 47:4; 2:10; Ps 97:1; Es 10:1, where the phrase isles of the sea is in antithesis with the land or continent. The plural of this word, usually translated islands, was employed by the Hebrews to denote distant regions beyond the sea, whether coasts or islands; and especially the islands and maritime countries of the west, which had become indistinctly known to the Hebrews, through the voyages of the Phoenicians, Isa 24:15; 40:15; 42:4,10,12; Ps 72:10. In Eze 27:15, the East Indian Archipelago would seem to be intended.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad.
"So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, 'Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we escape?'"
Be silent, you inhabitants of the coastland, You merchants of Sidon; Your messengers crossed the sea
Therefore glorify the LORD in the east, The name of the LORD, the God of Israel, In the coastlands of the sea.
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.
"He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law."
Sing to the LORD a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it You islands, and those who dwell on them.
"I will lay waste the mountains and hills And wither all their vegetation; I will make the rivers into coastlands And dry up the ponds.
"Why was there no man when I came? When I called, why was there none to answer? Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, I dry up the sea with My rebuke, I make the rivers a wilderness; Their fish stink for lack of water And die of thirst.
"For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this!
On account of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon Every ally that is left; For the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
"Your sail was of fine embroidered linen from Egypt So that it became your distinguishing mark; Your awning was blue and purple from the coastlands of Elishah.
"The sons of Dedan were your traders Many coastlands were your market; ivory tusks and ebony they brought as your payment.