Dictionaries :: Teman

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Teman:

id. (1.) A grandson of Esau, one of the "dukes of Edom" (Gen 36:11,15,42).

(2.) A place in Southern Idumea, the land of "the sons of the east," frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. It was noted for the wisdom of its inhabitants (Amo 1:12; Oba 1:8; Jer 49:7; Eze 25:13). It was divided from the hills of Paran by the low plain of Arabah (Hab 3:3).

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Teman:

Temani, the south; Africa; perfect

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Teman:

te'-man (teman, "on the right," i.e. "south"; Thaiman): The name of a district and town in the land of Edom, named after Teman the grandson of Esau, the son of his firstborn, Eliphaz (Ge 36:11; 1Ch 1:36). A duke Teman is named among the chiefs or clans of Edom (Ge 36:42; 1Ch 1:53). He does not however appear first, in the place of the firstborn. Husham of the land of the Temanites was one of the ancient kings of Edom (Ge 36:34; 1Ch 1:45). From Obad 1:9 we gather that Teman was in the land of Esau (Edom). In Am 1:12 it is named along with Bozrah, the capital of Edom. In Eze 25:13 desolation is denounced upon Edom: "From Teman even unto Dedan shall they fall by the sword." Dedan being in the South, Teman must be sought in the North Eusebius, Onomasticon knows a district in the Gebalene region called Theman, and also a town with the same name, occupied by a Roman garrison, 15 miles from Petra. Unfortunately no indication of direction is given. No trace of the name has yet been found. It may have been on the road from Elath to Bozrah.

The inhabitants of Teman seem to have been famous for their wisdom (Jer 49:7; Obad 1:8 f). Eliphaz the Temanite was chief of the comforters of Job (2:11, etc.). The manner in which the city is mentioned by the prophets, now by itself, and again as standing for Edom, shows how important it must have been in their time.

Written by W. Ewing

Nave's Topical Bible

Teman: 1. Son of Eliphaz

Gen 36:11

Teman: 2. Called also Temani and Temanites

A people supposed to be descended from Teman, son of Eliphaz,

Gen 36:34; Job 2:11.

Prophecies concerning,

Jer 49:7; Eze 25:13; Amo 1:12; Oba 1:9; Hab 3:3.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Teman:

(the south).

(1.) A son of Eliphaz, son of Esau by Adah (Genesis 36:11; 36:15; 36:41; 1 Chronicles 1:36; 1:53). (B.C. about 1792)

(2.) A country, and probably a city, named after the Edomite phylarch, or from which the phylarch took his name. The Hebrew signifies "south," etc., (see Job 9:9; Isaiah 43:6) and it is probable that the land of Teman was a southern portion of the land of Edom, or, in a wider sense, that of the sons of the east. Teman is mentioned in five places by the prophets, in four of which it is connected with Edom and in two with Dedan (Jeremiah 49:7-8; Ezekiel 25:13). Eusebius and Jerome mention Teman as a town in their day distant 15 miles from Petra, and a Roman post.