Teman (Hebrew: תֵּימָן, meaning "south" or "right hand") is both a historical region of Edom and a personal name attributed to a grandson of Esau, who became one of the foundational "dukes" (Aluphim) of the Edomite nation. In esoteric thought, the Dukes of Edom represent the primordial, unbalanced forces of creation that preceded the harmonious ordering of the cosmos. Teman specifically embodies the intellectual and strategic aspect of these ancient rulers, carrying a reputation for profound, worldly wisdom.

Position on the Tree of Life

Teman is allocated to the eighth Sephirah, Hod (Splendour). While the Dukes of Edom are often equated with the chaotic "kings of unbalanced force" that fell before the creation of the balanced Tree, their systematic placement across the Sephiroth in Hermetic Qabbalah represents their redemption and integration. In Hod, the raw, fiery energy of Edom is channeled into the structured, analytical, and communicative channels of the concrete mind.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

Under the governance of Hod, Teman is aligned with the planet Mercury. This planetary attribution highlights the intellectual reputation of the Temanites. Mercury rules over logic, writing, commerce, and the transmission of knowledge—attributes that directly mirror the biblical renown of Teman as a center of counsel and philosophical inquiry.

Historical Context

In the Hebrew Bible, Teman is first mentioned in Genesis 36 as the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau, establishing him as a chief patriarch of the Edomites. The region named after him, located in southern Jordan or northwestern Arabia, became famous for its sages. This is most notably illustrated in the Book of Job, where Eliphaz the Temanite appears as the chief and most articulate of Job's three comforting friends, delivering long, structured theological discourses. The Prophet Jeremiah underscores this reputation by asking rhetorically, "Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?" (Jeremiah 49:7). In Qabbalistic texts, such as the Zohar and the writings of Isaac Luria, the "kings" and "dukes" of Edom are analyzed as the vessels of the World of Tohu (Chaos) that shattered because they could not contain the divine light; the integration of Teman into the eighth scale step signifies the intellectual containment and ordering of this shattered spark.

In Liber 777, Teman is positioned at the eighth scale step (Hod), serving as the specific Edomite correspondence for this Sephirah. This placement emphasizes that even the most ancient, chaotic forces must ultimately find expression through the rational, organizing principles of the Mercurial mind.