תֵּימָא
Tema, a son of Ishmael, and the region settled by him
Definition
Tema (תֵּימָא) is a proper noun referring primarily to a person and a region in the Old Testament. It first appears as the name of a son of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar (Genesis 25:15, 1 Chronicles 1:30). The name also designates the geographical region or settlement associated with his descendants, located in the northern Arabian desert. In the prophetic books, Tema is depicted as a distant desert oasis, a place of caravans and trade, as seen in Job 6:19 where travelers from Tema are mentioned, and in Isaiah 21:14 where its inhabitants are called to bring water to thirsty fugitives. Jeremiah 25:23 includes Tema among the distant nations to be judged.
Biblical Usage
The word is used five times in the Old Testament across narrative, poetic, and prophetic contexts. In the historical books (Genesis, Chronicles), it functions as a personal name in genealogical lists. In the poetic book of Job, it references the region as a known source of desert travelers. In the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah), Tema symbolizes a remote Arabian trading community, part of the world known to Israel but lying beyond its direct control. Its usage shifts from a familial name to a geographical marker of the arid, commercial fringe of the ancient Near East.
Etymology
The Hebrew תֵּימָא (or the variant תֵּמָא) is considered to be of foreign derivation, likely originating from a local North Arabian language. It is not derived from a common Hebrew root. The name is preserved in modern geography, associated with the oasis of Tayma in northwestern Saudi Arabia, a known center of ancient trade and settlement, confirming its identification as a real location.
Semantic Range
Tema serves as a theological marker of God's sovereignty over all peoples and places. As a son of Ishmael, Tema's inclusion in the Genesis genealogy shows God's faithfulness to His promise to bless Ishmael and make him a great nation (Genesis 17:20). As a distant region, its mention in judgment oracles (Jeremiah 25:23) and prophetic imagery (Isaiah 21:14) underscores that God's purview and concern extend beyond Israel to all nations. It reminds the reader that biblical history and prophecy encompass the wider world of Abraham's descendants and their neighbors.
In its original setting, Tema was understood as a real and significant oasis settlement on the major incense trade route in the Arabian Desert. It was a hub for caravans traveling between South Arabia and the civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Levant. Biblical references to bringing water from Tema (Isaiah 21:14) directly reflect its cultural reputation as a vital source of water in a harsh desert environment. Its inhabitants were known as skilled traders and desert dwellers, distinct from the settled agricultural life of ancient Israel.
Dedan (Dedan, H1719) — Another major North Arabian trade center and tribe, often mentioned alongside or in proximity to Tema (e.g., Isaiah 21:13-14). Sheba (Sheva', H7614) — A renowned South Arabian kingdom and trading power, representing the southern end of the caravan routes that passed through regions like Tema.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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