Tema תֵּימָא
Son of Ishmael, associated with an Arabian city
Who is Tema in the Bible?
Tema was a son of Ishmael and a descendant of Abraham, listed among Ishmael's twelve sons in Genesis 25:15 and 1 Chronicles 1:30. He is associated with the ancient Arabian city of Tema, an important oasis and caravan stop in northwestern Arabia that served as a significant trade route in the ancient Near East. His descendants likely settled in or around this city, and Tema represents one of the tribal groups that emerged from Ishmael's line. Though Tema appears only briefly in biblical genealogies, his connection to a major Arabian trading center reflects the historical expansion of Ishmael's descendants across the Arabian Peninsula.
Biography
Tema is mentioned in Gen.25.15 and 1Ch.1.30 as one of the twelve sons of Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar. He is listed among the "princes according to their nations" that descended from Ishmael. Tema is associated with the ancient city of Tema, an important oasis and caravan stop in northwestern Arabia. His descendants likely settled in or around this city.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Nebaioth ArabiaSon of IshmaelFirstborn son of Ishmael; father of a tribe.View full profile →
- Kedar ArabiaSon of IshmaelA son of Ishmael and a nomadic tribeView full profile →
- Adbeel ArabiaSon of IshmaelSon of Ishmael, grandson of AbrahamView full profile →
- Mibsam Tribe of SimeonSon of ShallumA Simeonite, son of Mishma.View full profile →
- Mishma Tribe of SimeonSon of MibsamA Simeonite, son of Mibsam.View full profile →
- Dumah ArabiaSon of IshmaelSon of Ishmael and grandson of AbrahamView full profile →
- Massa ArabiaSon of IshmaelSon of Ishmael, grandson of Abraham.View full profile →
- Hadad ArabiaSon of IshmaelA son of Ishmael, Abraham's son.View full profile →
- Jetur ArabiaSon of IshmaelSon of IshmaelView full profile →
- Naphish ArabiaSon of IshmaelSon of Ishmael, defeated by Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassites.View full profile →
- Kedemah ArabiaSon of IshmaelA son of Ishmael; Nodab, a Hagrite tribeView full profile →
- Mahalath ArabiaEsau's wifeEsau's wife, daughter of IshmaelView full profile →
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 25:15
"Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah."
Study Genesis →
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 1:30
"Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | תֵּימָא | tēymāʾ | Tema , a son of Ishmael, and the region settled by him |
Tema
Jer.25.23">Jer 25:23), and of the place where they dwelt (Job 6:19; Isa 21:14). This last was a locality in Arabia which probably corresponds to the modern Teima' (or Tayma' (see Doughty, Arabia Deserta, I, 285)), an oasis which lies about 200 miles North of el-Medina, and some 40 miles South of Dumat el-Jandal (Dumah), now known as el-Jauf. It is on the ancient caravan road connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Aqaba; and doubtless the people took a share in the carrying trade (Job 6:19). The wells of the oasis still attract the wanderers from the parched wastes (Isa 21:14). Doughty (loc. cit.) describes the ruins of the old city wall, some 3 miles in circuit. An Aramaic stele recently discovered, belonging to the 6th century BC, shows the influence of Assyrian article The place is mentioned in the cuneiform inscriptions (Schrader, KAT2, 149).
W. Ewing
te'-ma (temach, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Vaticanus Thema; Lucian, Themaa; Ne 7:55; Codex Vaticanus Hemath; Codex Alexandrinus Thema; Lucian, Themaa; the King James Version, Thamah