8489. Temani
Lexical Summary
Temani: Temanite, Temanites

Original Word: תֵּימָנִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Teymaniy
Pronunciation: tay-maw-nee'
Phonetic Spelling: (tay-maw-nee')
KJV: Temani, Temanite
NASB: Temanite, Temanites
Word Origin: [patronymically from H8487 (תֵּימָן תֵּמָן - Teman)]

1. a Temanite or descendant of Teman

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Temani, Temanite

Patronymically from Teyman; a Temanite or descendant of Teman -- Temani, Temanite.

see HEBREW Teyman

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from Teman
Definition
inhab. of Teman
NASB Translation
Temanite (6), Temanites (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
תֵּימָנִי adjective, of a people always with article אֱלִיפַז הַתֵּימָנִי (see above) Job 2:11; Job 4:1; Job 15:1; Job 42:7,9 = הֵַתּמָנִי ׳אֱל Job 22:1; = proper name collective ׳אֶרֶץ הַתּ Genesis 36:34 the land of the Temanites = 1 Chronicles 1:45.

Topical Lexicon
Identity and Geographic Setting

The designation “Temanite” identifies a native or inhabitant of Teman, a district in the highlands of Edom south-east of the Dead Sea. Teman was famed for wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7; Obadiah 8) and lay along ancient trade routes that connected Arabia, Edom, and the Negev with Judah. Being an Edomite center, Teman stood in hereditary kinship—and frequent tension—with the descendants of Jacob.

Earliest Historical Notice

The first appearance is in the Edomite king list: “When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place” (Genesis 36:34; compare 1 Chronicles 1:45). The verse shows that Teman possessed sufficient standing for its citizen, Husham, to become monarch over all Edom. Even in the patriarchal era the Temanites were integrated into regional politics.

The Temanite in Wisdom Literature

Every remaining occurrence belongs to the narrative frame of Job, where Eliphaz the Temanite is the chief spokesman among Job’s three comforters (Job 2:11; 4:1; 15:1; 22:1; 42:7, 9).

• Eliphaz’s provenance from Teman fits the reputation of Edomite sages. His speeches are deeply reflective, appealing to visions (4:12-21), tradition (15:17-19), and retributive theology (22:4-30).
• The Lord later rebukes Eliphaz and his companions, declaring, “You have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:7). His status as a Temanite, therefore, underscores the limits of renowned human wisdom when it is detached from divine revelation.
• The sacrificial reconciliation in Job 42:9, with Eliphaz obeying God’s directive, depicts reconciliation between Edomite and Israelite lines—anticipating the future inclusion of Gentiles who humble themselves before the Lord’s mediator.

Theological Significance

1. Wisdom’s Source: Teman’s intellectual heritage cannot substitute for the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). The Temanite dialogues illustrate that traditional moral logic is insufficient for explaining innocent suffering.
2. Kinship and Grace: Descendants of Esau (Edom) and Jacob (Israel) appear together in the sacred story, reminding readers that God’s redemptive purposes encompass both lines despite centuries of strife.
3. Divine Sovereignty: By placing an Edomite sage at center stage, Scripture demonstrates that the living God addresses and refines every culture’s wisdom, calling all peoples to accountability.

Prophetic Echoes

Later prophets announce judgment upon Teman for its pride (Obadiah 8-9; Ezekiel 25:13). The earlier figure of Eliphaz serves both as exhibit of Teman’s wisdom and as a foretaste of its correction when that wisdom resists divine truth.

Ministry Applications

• Apologetics: Christians may engage prevailing philosophies respectfully yet critically, as Job responds to Eliphaz, measuring every claim against the full counsel of God.
• Pastoral Care: Eliphaz’s well-intentioned but wounding counsel warns against offering platitudes to the suffering. Authentic comfort listens, laments, and points to the righteous Sufferer, Jesus Christ.
• Missions: The final reconciliation scene invites believers to intercede for estranged peoples, confident that the Lord welcomes repentant nations just as He accepted the sacrifices of Eliphaz the Temanite.

Summary

The Temanite represents both the heights and the hazards of human wisdom, displaying the universal quest for understanding while spotlighting the supremacy of divine revelation. His legacy calls the Church to seek wisdom from above, extend grace across ancestral divides, and proclaim Christ as the answer to the deepest riddles of life and suffering.

Forms and Transliterations
הַֽתֵּימָנִ֗י הַֽתֵּמָנִ֗י הַתֵּֽימָנִ֗י הַתֵּֽימָנִ֜י הַתֵּימָנִֽי׃ הַתֵּימָנִי֙ התימני התימני׃ התמני hat·tê·mā·nî hatteimaNi hattemaNi hattêmānî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 36:34
HEB: חֻשָׁ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ הַתֵּימָנִֽי׃
NAS: of the land of the Temanites became king
KJV: of the land of Temani reigned
INT: and Husham of the land of the Temanites

1 Chronicles 1:45
HEB: חוּשָׁ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ הַתֵּימָנִֽי׃
NAS: of the land of the Temanites became king
KJV: of the land of the Temanites reigned
INT: Husham of the land of the Temanites

Job 2:11
HEB: מִמְּקֹמ֔וֹ אֱלִיפַ֤ז הַתֵּימָנִי֙ וּבִלְדַּ֣ד הַשּׁוּחִ֔י
NAS: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad
KJV: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad
INT: place Eliphaz the Temanite Bildad the Shuhite

Job 4:1
HEB: וַ֭יַּעַן אֱלִיפַ֥ז הַֽתֵּימָנִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
NAS: Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
KJV: Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered
INT: answered Eliphaz the Temanite and said

Job 15:1
HEB: וַ֭יַּעַן אֱלִיפַ֥ז הַֽתֵּימָנִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
NAS: Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,
KJV: Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
INT: answered Eliphaz the Temanite and said

Job 22:1
HEB: וַ֭יַּעַן אֱלִיפַ֥ז הַֽתֵּמָנִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
NAS: Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,
KJV: Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered
INT: answered Eliphaz the Temanite and said

Job 42:7
HEB: אֶל־ אֱלִיפַ֣ז הַתֵּֽימָנִ֗י חָרָ֨ה אַפִּ֤י
NAS: to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath
KJV: to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath
INT: to Eliphaz the Temanite is kindled my wrath

Job 42:9
HEB: וַיֵּלְכוּ֩ אֱלִיפַ֨ז הַתֵּֽימָנִ֜י וּבִלְדַּ֣ד הַשּׁוּחִ֗י
NAS: So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad
KJV: So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad
INT: went Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8489
8 Occurrences


hat·tê·mā·nî — 7 Occ.
hat·tê·mā·nî — 1 Occ.

8488
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