תֵּימָן (te.man)
te.man
south
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun teiman simply means "south" or "southward," but its usage reveals how ancient Israelites oriented themselves in space. Rather than relying on compass points, they often defined direction by their relationship to the land itself. The word appears nineteen times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative sections of Exodus, Numbers, and Joshua where precise geographical movement is critical.
Its root meaning connects "south" with "right side," reflecting a cultural perspective where facing east meant south was on the right. This linguistic link explains why teiman can describe both a physical direction and a specific wind. In poetic texts like Job 37:9, it refers to the southern wind, showing how the term extended from geography into weather patterns.
Translators typically render teiman as "south" or "toward the south," maintaining consistency across biblical books. The word helps readers visualize the vast distances Israelites traveled, such as Moses leading people toward the southern regions or Joshua dividing land with boundaries extending to the south. This concrete spatial language grounds biblical narratives in real places.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word teiman points to the south, but it also carries the sense of the right hand or side. In ancient Israel, facing east meant the south was on the right. This connection between direction and position shows how deeply their physical world shaped their language. When Scripture mentions the south, it often highlights a place of order, stability, or divine guidance.
In the tabernacle instructions, the boards for the south side were carefully measured and placed. This precision reminds us that God cares about the details of our lives. Just as the camp was arranged with clear directions, we can find comfort in knowing that our steps are ordered by a loving Creator who sees all sides of our journey.
Whether referring to the land boundaries or the winds that blow, teiman grounds us in reality. It invites us to look at the world around us and see God’s handiwork in every direction. We can trust that He is present in the south as much as in the north, guiding us through every season with faithfulness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- south/ -ward7×
- [the] south3×
- to/ [the] south1×
- the/ south1×
- from/ [the] south1×
- and/ to/ [the] south1×
- and/ south/ -ward1×
- and/ from/ [the] south1×
- a south wind1×
- [will be] south/ -ward1×
- O south wind1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תֵּימָֽנָ/ה\׃2×
- תֵּימָ֑נָ/ה2×
- תֵימָֽן\׃2×
- תֵּימָֽן\׃1×
- תֵּימָ֗נָ/ה1×
- תֵּימָ֖נָ/ה1×
- תֵּ֠ימָנָ/ה1×
- תֵמָֽן\׃1×
- תֵימָֽנָ/ה\׃1×
- תֵימָ֔ן1×
- מִ/תֵּימָ֞ן1×
- לְ/תֵימָֽן\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 26:18
You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.
This verse establishes the precise structural orientation of the tabernacle, showing how teiman defined sacred space.
-
Numbers 2:10
“On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Here the word marks the encampment position of Reuben, illustrating its role in organizing the community's movement.
-
Job 39:26
“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?
The hawk’s wings stretching toward the south demonstrate how the term extends beyond geography to describe natural behavior.
-
Isaiah 43:6
I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’ and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back! Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
God commands the south not to hold back His people, using the direction as a metaphor for gathering the dispersed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word teiman mean?
Why is 'south' connected to the 'right side' in Hebrew?
Where does teiman appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (19 verses across 9 books)
Exodus 5 verses
You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.
Exodus 26:35You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward…
Exodus 27:9“You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine…
Exodus 36:23He made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.
Exodus 38:9He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;