Home People Theme Tema was the ninth son of Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn through Hagar. He became the ancestor of an Arab people and gave his name to an oasis and trading city in northwestern Arabia. Tema is mentioned in the genealogies in Genesis and 1 Chronicles, and the place Tema is referenced in several prophetic and poetic writings.
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Key events Tema is listed as the ninth of Ishmael's twelve sons, all of whom became princely rulers over their peoples.
13 These are the names of Ishmael's sons, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, Ishmael's firstborn, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Heb וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל בִּשְׁמֹתָ֖ם לְתוֹלְדֹתָ֑ם בְּכֹ֤ר יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ נְבָיֹ֔ת וְקֵדָ֥ר וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃
14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Heb וּמִשְׁמָ֥ע וְדוּמָ֖ה וּמַשָּֽׂא׃
15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. Heb חֲדַ֣ד וְתֵימָ֔א יְט֥וּר נָפִ֖ישׁ וָקֵֽדְמָה׃
16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names according to their settlements and encampments—twelve princes, each with his own tribe. Heb אֵ֣לֶּה הֵ֞ם בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמֹתָ֔ם בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר נְשִׂיאִ֖ם לְאֻמֹּתָֽם׃
Tema's name is repeated in the genealogy of Ishmael's sons in 1 Chronicles.
29 These are their genealogies: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Heb אֵ֖לֶּה תֹּלְדוֹתָ֑ם בְּכ֤וֹר יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ נְבָי֔וֹת וְקֵדָ֥ר וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃
30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Heb מִשְׁמָ֣ע וְדוּמָ֔ה מַשָּׂ֖א חֲדַ֥ד וְתֵימָֽא׃
31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael. Heb יְט֥וּר נָפִ֖ישׁ וָקֵ֑דְמָה אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃ ס
Caravans from Tema are mentioned in Job as an image of disappointed expectations, testifying to Tema's significance as a trading center.
19 The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba hope for it, Heb הִ֭בִּיטוּ אָרְח֣וֹת תֵּמָ֑א הֲלִיכֹ֥ת שְׁ֝בָ֗א קִוּוּ־לָֽמוֹ׃
Isaiah prophesies about the burden upon Arabia and urges the people of Tema to meet refugees with water and bread.
13 An oracle concerning Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must camp for the night, you caravans of Dedan. Heb מַשָּׂ֖א בַּעְרָ֑ב בַּיַּ֤עַר בַּעְרַב֙ תָּלִ֔ינוּ אֹֽרְח֖וֹת דְּדָנִֽים׃
14 Bring water to the thirsty, you who live in the land of Tema; meet the fugitive with bread. Heb לִקְרַ֥את צָמֵ֖א הֵתָ֣יוּ מָ֑יִם יֹשְׁבֵי֙ אֶ֣רֶץ תֵּימָ֔א בְּלַחְמ֖וֹ קִדְּמ֥וּ נֹדֵֽד׃
Jeremiah mentions Tema among the Arab nations who will drink from God's cup of wrath in judgment against the nations.
23 Dedan, Tema, Buz and all who clip the hair at their temples; Heb וְאֶת־דְּדָ֤ן וְאֶת־תֵּימָא֙ וְאֶת־בּ֔וּז וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־קְצוּצֵ֥י פֵאָֽה׃
Mentioned in the Bible (4)