THEMAN (ebr. Tēmān, gr. Θαψάν). — Name of the most famous Edomite tribe, descended from Eliphaz, grandson of Esau (Gen. 36, 11.15.42; I Par. 1, 36.53), and also of the district inhabited by them (Gen. 36, 34; I Par. 1, 45) in the territory of Edom.
T. is in fact used as a synonym for Edom (Abd. 9) or placed in parallel with Edom (Ier. 49, 7.20). The Themaites were renowned for their discernment and wisdom (Ier. 49, 7; Abd. 8; Bar. 3, 22); Job’s most subtle interlocutor was the Temanite Eliphaz (Iob 2, 1; 4, 1; 15, 1; 22, 1; 42, 7.9). In the Byzantine period (Eusebio, Ouomast., 96, 20) the name was used for a military station situated 15 miles from Petra, perhaps corresponding to el-Meqdes; here, however, there are no archaeological remains of military works, which are instead found in the ruins of es-Sawbak north of Petra; perhaps the distance of 15 should be changed to 25.