Reference: Isles
Fausets
Hebrew iyim, from aawah, "to inhabit." Shore land at opposed to sea, dry land as opposed to rivers. Isa 42:15, "I will make the rivers islands." God will dry up the fountains of the pagan idolatry and oracles, i.e. their schools, doctrines, and institutions, the symbol of which is, water (Vitringa). So the word is applied to all lands reached from Palestine by sea. Jer 25:22, "the isles which are beyond the sea." Ge 10:5, "the isles of the Gentiles" (Ps 72:10; Isa 41:5; Zep 2:11). Also Chittim, i.e. Cyprus and Mediterranean coasts (Jer 2:10; Nu 24:24; Jer 47:4 margin, "the isle of Caphtor," i.e. Crete).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
By these have the isles of the nations been parted in their lands, each by his tongue, by their families, in their nations.
And -- ships are from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, And it also for ever is perishing.'
Kings of Tarshish and of the isles send back a present. Kings of Sheba and Seba a reward bring near.
Seen have isles and fear, ends of the earth tremble, They have drawn near, yea, they come.
I make waste mountains and hills, And all their herbs I dry up, And I have made rivers become isles, And ponds I dry up.
For, pass to the isles of Chittim, and see, And to Kedar send, and consider well, And see if there hath been like this:
And all the kings of Tyre, And all the kings of Zidon, And the kings of the isle that is beyond the sea,
Because of the day that hath come to spoil all the Philistines, To cut off to Tyre and to Zidon every helping remnant. For Jehovah is spoiling the Philistines, The remnant of the isle of Caphtor.
Fearful is Jehovah against them, For He made bare all gods of the land, And bow themselves to Him, each from his place, Do all islanders of the nations.