יְמָנִי (ye.ma.ni)
ye.ma.ni
right
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective yemani denotes something that is on the right side or belongs to the right hand. In the biblical text, it appears fifteen times, primarily within Leviticus, Exodus, and II Chronicles. The word functions as a straightforward spatial descriptor, identifying objects, directions, or actions associated with the right.
While its primary meaning is directional, the sources note that yemani can also carry the sense of "south." This connection arises because in the Northern Hemisphere, the right hand faces south when one looks toward the rising sun. Thus, the term bridges physical orientation and geographic direction, linking the concept of "right" with the southern cardinal point.
Translators typically render yemani as "right" or "right hand," preserving its literal sense in contexts such as ritual instructions or positional descriptions. The word does not carry metaphorical weight like "favor" or "power" in these instances; it remains a precise indicator of location, anchoring the reader’s understanding of physical arrangement within the sacred texts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yemani simply means "right" or refers to the right side. In the Old Testament, it appears mostly in instructions for temple building and priestly rituals. It tells us exactly where to place blood on a person’s ear or hand, or which pillar stands on the right in Solomon’s temple. This precision shows that God cares about order and clarity in how His people worship.
For your daily life, this word reminds us that God is not confused by details. When He gives instructions, they are clear so we can follow them without guessing. Whether it is a physical location or a simple direction, the right side often marks something set apart for holy use. You can trust that God’s guidance is specific and reliable.
Even when the text seems technical, it points to a God who invites us into structured relationship with Him. The right hand was seen as a place of strength and honor in ancient times. Knowing this helps us see that our service to God is not random but purposeful. We are invited to stand in the right place, doing what He has clearly shown.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ right23×
- <the>/ south5×
- the/ south [one]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/יְמָנִ֔ית13×
- הַ/יְמָנִ֑ית8×
- הַ/יְמָנִֽית\׃3×
- הַ/יְמָנִית֙2×
- הַ/יְמָנִי֙1×
- הַ/יְמָנִ֛ית1×
- הַ/יְמָנִ֗י1×
Key Verses
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Exodus 29:20
Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot; and sprinkle the blood around on the altar.
This verse shows the word marking the specific body parts where sacrificial blood was applied to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests.
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I Kings 7:21
He set up the pillars at the porch of the temple. He set up the right pillar and called its name Jachin; and he set up the left pillar and called its name Boaz.
Here the term identifies the right pillar of the temple porch, named Jachin, which stood opposite the left pillar Boaz.
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Leviticus 14:14
The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
The word specifies the exact location for applying blood during the cleansing ritual for someone recovering from a skin disease.
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II Chronicles 3:17
He set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.
This occurrence distinguishes the right pillar Jachin from the left pillar Boaz in the temple’s front entrance.