Lexical Summary
teman: south, south side, south wind
Original Word:תֵּימָן
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:teyman
Pronunciation:tay-MAHN
Phonetic Spelling:(tay-mawn')
KJV: south (side, -ward, wind)
NASB:south, south side, south wind, southward
Word Origin:[denominative fromH3225 (יָמִין - right hand)]
1. the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
south side,
Or teman {tay-mawn'}; denominative fromyamiyn; the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east) -- south (side, -ward, wind).
see HEBREWyamiyn
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
yaminDefinitionsouth, south wind
NASB Translationsouth (15), south side (2), south wind (1), south* (3), southward (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Isaiah 43:6 , chiefly poetic, P & Ezekiel (literally
what is on the right (hand), i.e. as one faces east; see Wetzst
Verhandi. d. Berl. Anthrop. Ges. 1878, 390) — absolute
Zechariah 9:14 6t. ( only
Zechariah 6:6);
Job 9:9; with locative
Exodus 26:18 12t.; —
south, southern quarter of sky,Job 39:26 (of flight of bird); of constellationsJob 9:9;Zechariah 9:14whirlwinds of the south; of territory,the southIsaiah 43:6 (opposed to ), alsoZechariah 6:6 (opposed to );Joshua 15:1southward at the end of the south, i.e. in the remotest south (of the land); — see also II. .
with locativetoward the south, especially in topograph. description (often with other points of compass),Exodus 26:18 (P),Ezekiel 47:19,Exodus 27:9;Exodus 36:33;Exodus 38:9 (all P),Ezekiel 47:19;Ezekiel 48:28; +sideExodus 26:35,Numbers 3:29 (both P); alsoNumbers 2:10;Numbers 10:6 (P);Deuteronomy 3:27; locative in redundant inEzekiel 21:2 turn they facesouthward ("" and ).
south windPsalm 78:26 ( in "" clause),Songs 4:16 ( in "" clause)
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Conceptual Backgroundתֵּימָן is used in Scripture to designate “the south,” “southward,” or “the south wind.” Ancient Hebrews faced east when orienting themselves; thus the south lay at the right hand. The word therefore conveys both a compass point and a position of privilege or strength (cf.Psalm 89:13). By extension it is employed figuratively for warmth, life-giving wind, or the locus of divine activity.
The South in Israel’s Geographic Orientation
When Moses received the Tabernacle blueprint, the south side was repeatedly specified (Exodus 26:18; 26:35; 27:9; 36:23; 38:9). Directional precision reminded Israel that worship was not left to human preference but ordered by God. The south stood opposite the north entrance, teaching that every approach to God must heed His revealed pattern.
Tribal Encampments and Marching Orders
At Sinai, the tribes camped “on the south side” under Reuben’s banner (Numbers 2:10), and the Kohathites—guardians of the sanctuary vessels—dwelt “on the south side of the tabernacle” (Numbers 3:29). A separate trumpet blast signaled those on the south to set out (Numbers 10:6). The detail underscores God’s concern for orderly progress; each believer has an appointed place and timing within His redemptive plan.
Covenantal Borders and the Promised Land
Moses viewed Canaan from Pisgah and was told, “Look south and west and north and east” (Deuteronomy 3:27). Joshua later defined Judah’s inheritance “toward the south” (Joshua 15:1) and identified southern limits of conquered territory (Joshua 12:3; 13:4). תֵּימָן thus frames Israel’s God-given borders, strengthening confidence that the land promise is neither vague nor negotiable.
Poetic Imagery of the South Wind
Job marveled that God “makes…the constellations of the south” (Job 9:9) and observed the hawk’s instinctive migration “toward the south” (Job 39:26). The psalmist testified, “He unleashed… the south wind by His might” (Psalm 78:26). In Song of Songs the beloved pleads, “Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind” (Song of Songs 4:16), a picture of refreshing intimacy. In poetry the south wind symbolizes warmth, provision, and divine tenderness.
Calls to Restoration and Warnings of Judgment
“I will say to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’ Bring My sons from afar” (Isaiah 43:6). The same point on the compass that once marked exile is commanded to release God’s people, highlighting His sovereign authority over every direction. Ezekiel was told, “Set your face toward the south…prophesy against the forest land of the Negev” (Ezekiel 20:46), announcing fiery judgment. Zechariah envisioned heavenly chariots “going toward the south” (Zechariah 6:6) and foretold the Lord’s advance “in the whirlwinds of the south” (Zechariah 9:14). The south can be venue of grace or of wrath; the determining factor is covenant fidelity.
Christological and Ecclesial Implications
New-covenant writers echo the four-winds motif (Matthew 24:31;Revelation 7:1), and Jesus cites the “Queen of the South” to condemn unbelief (Luke 11:31). תֵּימָן accents the breadth of the gospel call: from every direction the redeemed are gathered. The ordered encampment around the Tabernacle anticipates the church, “built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). As the south wind once filled the wilderness camp with meat (Numbers 11:31), so the Spirit breathes life into the body of Christ.
Practical Ministry Applications
1. Direction for God’s People. Just as trumpet blasts guided the southern camp, believers must be sensitive to Scriptural signals for movement or rest.
2. Warmth of Divine Presence. The south wind’s imagery encourages prayer for the Spirit’s enlivening power in worship and witness.
3. Ordered Service. Knowing one’s “place on the south side” fosters humble cooperation rather than competition in ministry teams.
4. Hope for Restoration. When interceding for the scattered, we may confidently command, “South, do not hold them back,” trusting God’s pledged regathering.
Through its 23 occurrences, תֵּימָן weaves a tapestry of orientation, order, warmth, judgment, and hope—each strand pointing to the God who rules every wind and summons His people from every quarter.
Forms and Transliterations
הַתֵּימָֽן׃ התימן׃ וְתֵימָ֥נָה וּלְתֵימָ֖ן וּמִ֨תֵּימָ֔ן ולתימן ומתימן ותימנה לְתֵימָֽן׃ לתימן׃ מִתֵּימָ֞ן מתימן תֵּ֠ימָנָה תֵּימָ֑נָה תֵּימָ֔נָה תֵּימָ֖נָה תֵּימָ֗נָה תֵּימָֽן׃ תֵּימָֽנָה׃ תֵימָ֔ן תֵימָֽן׃ תֵימָֽנָה׃ תֵמָֽן׃ תימן תימן׃ תימנה תימנה׃ תמן׃ hat·tê·mān hatteiMan hattêmān lə·ṯê·mān leteiMan ləṯêmān mit·tê·mān mitteiMan mittêmān tê·mā·nāh ṯê·mā·nāh tê·mān ṯê·mān teiMan teiManah teMan têmān ṯêmān têmānāh ṯêmānāh ū·lə·ṯê·mān ū·mit·tê·mān uleteiMan ūləṯêmān uMitteiMan ūmittêmān veteiManah wə·ṯê·mā·nāh wəṯêmānāh
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