King James Bible Dictionary

Or Kittim, a plural form (Genesis 10:4), the name of a branch of the descendants of Javan, the "son" of Japheth. Balaam foretold (Numbers 24:24) "that ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and afflict Eber." Daniel prophesied (11:30) that the ships of Chittim would come against the king of the north. It probably denotes Cyprus, whose ancient capital was called Kition by the Greeks.

The references elsewhere made to Chittim (Isaiah 23:1, 12; Jeremiah 2:10; Ezekiel 27:6) are to be explained on the ground that while the name originally designated the Phoenicians only, it came latterly to be used of all the islands and various settlements on the sea-coasts which they had occupied, and then of the people who succeeded them when the Phoenician power decayed. Hence it designates generally the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean and the races that inhabit them.

Descendants of Javan
Genesis 10:4

Probably inhabited islands of the Mediterranean
Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 23:12; Jeremiah 2:10

Their commerce
Ezekiel 27:6

Prophecies concerning
Numbers 24:24; Daniel 11:30

(bruisers), a family or race descended from Javan. (Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7) Authorized Version KITTIM. Chittim is frequently noticed in Scripture. (Numbers 24:24; Isaiah 23:1,12; Jeremiah 2:10; Ezekiel 27:6; Daniel 11:30) In the above passages, the "isles of Chittim," the "ships of Chittim, the "coasts of Chittim," are supposed to refer to the island of Cyprus. Josephus considered Cyprus the original seat of the Chittim. The name Chittim, which in the first instance had implied to Phoenicians only, passed over to the islands which they had occupied, and thence to the people who succeeded the Phoenicians in the occupation of them.