hā´v ' n ((1) חוף , ḥōph ( Genesis 49:13 , the Revised Version margin "beach"; Judges 5:17 , the Revised Version margin "shore," the King James Version "seashore," the King James Version margin "port"); elsewhere "sea-shore" (Deuteronomy 1:7; Joshua 9:1; Jeremiah 47:7 ) or "sea coast" (Ezekiel 25:16 ); from root חפף , ḥāphaph , "to wash" or "to lave"; compare Arabic ḥaffa , "to rub"; and ḥaffat , "border"; Ḥufûf , in Eastern Arabia; (2) מחוז , māḥōz (Psalm 107:30 ); (3) λιμήν , limḗn (Acts 27:12 bis ); also Fair Havens, καλοὶ λιμένες , kaloı́ liménes (Acts 27:8 )): While the Greek limēn is "harbor," the Hebrew ḥoph is primarily "shore." There is no harbor worthy of the name on the shore of Palestine South of Ḥaifa . Indeed there is no good natural harbor on the whole coast of Syria and Palestine. The promontories of Carmel, Beirût and Tripolis afford shelter from the prevalent southwest wind, but offer no refuge from the fury of a northern gale. On rocky shores there are inlets which will protect sail boats at most times, but the ships of the ancients were beached in rough weather, and small craft are so treated at the present time. See illustration under BITHYNIA , p. 483.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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