Bible Dictionary
Teman
Teman was a grandson of Esau and an Edomite clan or chief. It also designated a district and town in Edom, whose inhabitants were noted for wisdom.
Definition
Teman was a grandson of Esau through Eliphaz, an Edomite chief or clan, and a district and town in Edom. The name means “south” or “on the right,” referring to the southern direction.
Biblical Usage
Teman represents an Edomite people and territory. Its inhabitants were noted for wisdom, and Eliphaz the Temanite was one of Job’s friends.
Historical Background
Teman was associated with southern Idumea and Edom, near Bozrah and the road from Elath to Bozrah. Its precise location has not been established, though ancient writers knew a district and town of that name.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
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 (Amos 1:12; Obad. 1:8; Jer. 49:7; Ezek. 25:13). It was divided from the hills of Paran by the low plain of Arabah (Hab. 3:3).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(the south).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>