8555. Timna

Lexical Summary

Timna: Timna

Original Word: תִּמְנָע
Part of Speech: proper name, masculine and feminine; proper name, masculine; feminine
Transliteration: Timna`
Pronunciation: tim-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (tim-naw')
KJV: Timna, Timnah
NASB: Timna
Word Origin: [from H4513 (מָנַע - withheld)]

1. restraint
2. Timna, the name of two Edomites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Timna, Timnah

From mana'; restraint; Timna, the name of two Edomites -- Timna, Timnah.

see HEBREW mana'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from mana
Definition
an Edomite name
NASB Translation
Timna (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

תִּמְנָע proper name, masculine and feminine Edomite name. ᵐ5 θαμνα: —

1 תִּמְנָע

proper name, masculine

a. a chief of Edom Genesis 36:40 = 1 Chronicles 1:51.

b. son of Eliphaz 1 Chronicles 1:36 (for Korah Genesis 36:15,16).

2 תִּמְנָע֑

feminine Genesis 36:22 = 1 Chronicles 1:39 sister of Lotan (of Seir); Genesis 3:12 concubine of Eliphaz son of Esau.

מַנְעוּל, [מִנְעָל] see נעל.

[מַנְעַמִּים] see נעם. מְנַָֽעַנְעִים see נוע.

[מְנַקִּית], מְנַקִּיָּה see נקה

מֵנֶ֫קֶת see ינק

Hiph`il

מְנֹרָה see מְנוֺרָה below נור.

Topical Lexicon

Occurrences in Scripture

Genesis 36:12; Genesis 36:22; Genesis 36:40

1 Chronicles 1:36; 1 Chronicles 1:39; 1 Chronicles 1:51

Genealogical Setting

1. Concubine‐Mother of Amalek (Genesis 36:12). “Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Eliphaz Amalek.” The union of Timna and Eliphaz produced the founder of the Amalekites, a people who would become persistent foes of Israel.
2. Sister of Lotan (Genesis 36:22; 1 Chronicles 1:39). “Lotan’s sister was Timna.” Her placement alongside male descendants underscores her importance within the Horite branch of Seir.
3. Clan Leader in Edom (Genesis 36:40; 1 Chronicles 1:51). “Chief Timna” appears among the chiefs (’allup̄) of Esau. In 1 Chronicles 1:36 she is also listed among “the sons of Eliphaz,” indicating that the clan descended from or named after her had gained the same standing as male‐headed clans.

Historical Background

Timna’s account unfolds within the interwoven genealogies of Esau (Edom) and Seir the Horite. These lists preserve the memory of early Edomite polity in which personal names doubled as clan and district names. A woman’s name serving as a clan title is unusual but not unparalleled in ancient Near Eastern records, and it highlights Timna’s stature. Amalek’s birth through Timna places her at the headwaters of a lineage that repeatedly opposed God’s covenant people (Exodus 17:8–16; Deuteronomy 25:17–19; 1 Samuel 15).

Theological and Ministry Insights

1. The Sovereign Weaving of Lineages. Genealogies that seem peripheral are instruments of God’s larger redemptive plan. Timna’s brief mentions connect Genesis with later narratives of conflict and deliverance, reminding readers that no detail is accidental.
2. The Roots of Hostility. By recording Amalek’s maternal origin in Edom, Scripture traces Israel’s later struggles back to family choices that ignored covenant priorities. The hostility of the Amalekites becomes a living parable of the flesh warring against the Spirit (Galatians 5:17).
3. Women in Redemptive History. Though outside the chosen line, Timna left a lasting mark on history. Her inclusion among chiefs affirms that Scripture notices the roles of women even in predominantly patriarchal settings.
4. Judgment and Mercy. Edom and Amalek would both taste divine judgment, yet God’s word also extended mercy to individual Edomites (Deuteronomy 23:7; Amos 9:12). Timna’s descendants warn that proximity to covenant blessing does not guarantee participation; faith and obedience are required.

Lessons for Believers Today

• Decisions that seem private—like Timna’s liaison with Eliphaz—carry generational consequences.
• Spiritual opposition often springs from compromised relationships with the world; vigilance begins at the household level.
• Genealogies encourage confidence in Scripture’s historical reliability and in the Lord who guides history toward His promised consummation.

Forms and Transliterations

וְתִמְנַ֣ע ׀ וְתִמְנָ֥ע ותמנע תִּמְנָ֛ע תִּמְנָֽע׃ תמנע תמנע׃ tim·nā‘ timNa timnā‘ vetimNa wə·ṯim·na‘ wə·ṯim·nā‘ wəṯimna‘ wəṯimnā‘

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 36:12
HEB: וְתִמְנַ֣ע ׀ הָיְתָ֣ה פִילֶ֗גֶשׁ
NAS: Timna was a concubine of Esau's
KJV: And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz
INT: Timna become was a concubine

Genesis 36:22
HEB: וַאֲח֥וֹת לוֹטָ֖ן תִּמְנָֽע׃
NAS: and Lotan's sister was Timna.
KJV: and Lotan's sister [was] Timna.
INT: sister and Lotan's was Timna

Genesis 36:40
HEB: בִּשְׁמֹתָ֑ם אַלּ֥וּף תִּמְנָ֛ע אַלּ֥וּף עַֽלְוָ֖ה
NAS: chief Timna, chief
KJV: duke Timnah, duke
INT: their names chief Timna chief Alvah

1 Chronicles 1:36
HEB: וְגַעְתָּ֔ם קְנַ֖ז וְתִמְנָ֥ע וַעֲמָלֵֽק׃ ס
NAS: Gatam, Kenaz, Timna and Amalek.
KJV: Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.
INT: Gatam Kenaz Timna and Amalek

1 Chronicles 1:39
HEB: וַאֲח֥וֹת לוֹטָ֖ן תִּמְנָֽע׃ ס
NAS: and Lotan's sister [was] Timna.
KJV: and Homam: and Timna [was] Lotan's
INT: sister and Lotan's Timna

1 Chronicles 1:51
HEB: אֱד֔וֹם אַלּ֥וּף תִּמְנָ֛ע אַלּ֥וּף [עַלְיָה
NAS: were: chief Timna, chief
KJV: of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah,
INT: of Edom were chief Timna chief Aliah

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8555
6 Occurrences

tim·nā‘ — 4 Occ.
wə·ṯim·na‘ — 2 Occ.