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Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary: The Old Testament Hebrew word: ימן

Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Dictionary/y/y-m-nfin.html

ימן

Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary

ימן

The root ימן (ymn) isn't used in the Bible as verb. We only know it from the derivatives, which show up in all cognate languages:

  • The feminine noun ימין (yamin), meaning right hand (Genesis 48:13) or right side (Exodus 14:22, Numbers 20:17), or the right of other parts of the body (thigh - Judges 3:16; eye 1 Samuel 11:2). The right hand was seen as the seat of one's power. Hence the many references to God's right hand (Exodus 15:6, Psalm 98:1, Matthew 26:64). The right hand also denotes the south or a southern direction (when facing east, which is the past - west is the future - Psalm 89:12). The country of Yemen thanks its name to this usage; literally it means South Land. In this same sense, the left hand came to denote the north. See our article on the Greek equivalent, δεξιος (dexios), meaning right, for a closer look at the difference between right and left.
  • The adjective ימיני (yemini), meaning on the right (2 Chronicles 3:17, Ezekiel 4:6 only). In about five locations in the Bible this word is used as ethnonym for the Benjaminites (1 Samuel 9:4, Esther 2:5)
  • The verb ימן (yaman), meaning to go or choose the right (Genesis 13:10), or use the right hand (1 Chronicles 12:2).
  • The adjective ימני (yemani), meaning right hand or right (1 Kings 7:21, Exodus 29:20).
  • The feminine noun תימן (teman), meaning south (Job 39:26, Zechariah 9:14), south wind (Psalm 78:25, Song of Solomon 4:16). BDB helpfully explains that this noun should be interpreted as "that which is on the right hand".

Associated Biblical names