Original Word: תֵּימְנִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Teymniy
Pronunciation: tay-maw-nee
Phonetic Spelling: (tay-men-ee')
KJV: Temeni
NASB: Temeni
Word Origin: [probably for H8489 (תֵּימָנִי - Temanite)]

1. Temeni, an Israelite

Temeni

Probably for Teymaniy; Temeni, an Israelite -- Temeni.

see HEBREW Teymaniy

Word Origin
from the same as yamin
Definition
a man of Judah
NASB Translation
Temeni (1).

תֵּימְנִי apparently proper name, masculine in Judah 1 Chronicles 4:6.

יִמְנַע see below מנע.

Identity within the Chronicles Genealogy

Temeni appears once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:6, as a son born to Ashhur of the tribe of Judah through his wife Naarah: “Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah” (Berean Standard Bible). His placement in this Judahite genealogy locates him historically in the family line that produced David and, ultimately, the Messiah.

Genealogical and Tribal Significance

1 Chronicles devotes considerable space to tracing the descendants of Judah, underscoring the prominence of that tribe in Israel’s redemptive history. Temeni’s inclusion, though brief, affirms two key truths:

1. Continuity of the covenant line—every named son reinforces God’s preservation of Judah’s lineage through exile and return.
2. Expansion of Judah’s settlements—Ashhur is called “father of Tekoa” (1 Chronicles 4:5), and Temeni’s branch would have shared in the development of that southern Judean region.

Possible Geographic Echoes

While Temeni stands firmly within Judah, his name recalls the southern district of Teman in Edom. The Chronicler may have been drawing intentional wordplay: a Judean man whose very name evokes “southerner” signals the breadth of Judah’s reach and God’s sovereignty over territories once hostile to Israel.

Historical Context

Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile, when the Jewish community needed assurance of its rightful heritage. Even lesser-known figures like Temeni served that goal, anchoring post-exilic Judah to its pre-exilic past and reminding returned exiles that their identities were intact and documented.

Theological Observations

1. Divine Omniscience: Scripture records Temeni’s existence though no deeds of his are preserved, illustrating that God values every individual, not merely the prominent.
2. Covenant Faithfulness: The lineage culminating in Judah’s royal house depends on many links, some illustrious, some obscure. Temeni’s quiet presence testifies that God’s promises often advance through ordinary lives.
3. Christological Trajectory: By maintaining the integrity of Judah’s genealogies, the Chronicler ultimately safeguards the messianic hope fulfilled in Jesus Christ, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5).

Ministry Applications

• Dignity of the Unknown: Many believers serve without public acclaim, yet their faithfulness sustains the community just as Temeni’s line sustained Judah’s house.
• Importance of Legacy: Families and local churches today steward spiritual genealogies; recording testimonies and discipling the next generation ensures continuity of witness.
• Encouragement to Faithfulness: The Chronicler’s meticulous lists challenge modern readers to embrace their God-given roles, however small, trusting the Lord to weave them into His larger redemptive story.

Key Reference

1 Chronicles 4:6

תֵּימְנִ֖י תימני tê·mə·nî teimNi têmənîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts