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Abiram

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

A rebellious figure who, with Korah, opposed Moses and was swallowed by the earth as divine punishment.

Detailed Definition
Abiram’s rebellion in Numbers 16 exemplifies defiance against divinely appointed leadership. His dramatic demise serves as a cautionary tale. In poetry, Abiram symbolizes hubris and the catastrophic consequences of challenging sacred order, often invoked to explore themes of justice and divine retribution.
Example
Example in poetry:
In a poem on rebellion, Abiram—swallowed by the earth with Korah—is invoked: “Like Abiram, pride digs its own grave beneath the covenant’s stone”; A cautionary sonnet warns, “Let not your heart be as Abiram’s, stiff against the rod of Aaron”; Biblical typology in poetry links Abiram’s fate to modern arrogance: “Your towers may rise, but Abiram’s earth still hungers”; A midrashic verse imagines Abiram’s last cry: “The ground opened not in wrath, but sorrow—for it knew his name.”
Additional Notes
Abiram, son of Eliab, joined Korah’s rebellion against Moses’ authority (Numbers 16), challenging the hierarchical structure of Israelite leadership. His dramatic punishment—being swallowed alive by the earth—serves as a theological motif of divine retribution against hubris and communal dissent. In poetry, Abiram symbolizes the peril of defiance against sacred order; his story is often paired with Korah’s to explore themes of obedience, power, and the earth as both womb and tomb.
Also Known As
father exalted rebellious son Dathan brother
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