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Abiathar

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

High priest who supported David and later Solomon’s rival Adonijah

Detailed Definition
Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, escaped Saul’s massacre of priests and became David’s loyal high priest. He later backed Adonijah’s failed bid for kingship, leading to his exile by Solomon. In poetry, Abiathar symbolizes the tension between loyalty and political misjudgment, and the fragility of sacred office amid royal intrigue.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Regained," Abiathar is implicitly referenced through allusions to David’s court and priestly loyalty; In Alfred Tennyson’s "King David," Abiathar’s role as priest during David’s reign underscores themes of divine favor and exile; In Robert Browning’s "Saul," the tension between priestly and kingly authority echoes Abiathar’s historical position; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," priestly figures like Abiathar serve as intermediaries between heaven and earth; In William Blake’s prophetic books, Abiathar symbolizes the fading authority of the Levitical priesthood; In John Keble’s "Lyra Innocentium," Abiathar’s exile with David becomes a metaphor for faithful endurance.
Additional Notes
Abiathar: High priest during David’s reign who later supported Adonijah’s claim to the throne; his eventual exile by Solomon (1 Kings 2) marks a shift in religious authority. In poetry, Abiathar can symbolize loyalty, political intrigue, or the fall from grace. His association with the ephod and consultation of God (1 Samuel 23) links him to themes of divine guidance and priestly mediation. Compare with Zadok for contrasting priestly lineages.
Also Known As
Abiathar the Priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech
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