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Adonijah

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

Son of David who attempted to seize the throne but was later executed by Solomon

Detailed Definition
Adonijah, David’s fourth son, prematurely declared himself king, opposed by Nathan and Bathsheba who secured Solomon’s succession (1 Kings 1–2). His ambition led to his downfall. In poetry, Adonijah symbolizes failed usurpation, the peril of presumption, and the tragic cost of political miscalculation—often serving as a cautionary figure about the fragility of royal favor and divine election.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Dryden’s "Absalom and Achitophel," Adonijah’s failed bid for kingship parallels political ambition in 17th-century England; In Alfred Tennyson’s "King David," Adonijah’s presumption contrasts with Solomon’s wisdom; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "Aurora Leigh," Adonijah symbolizes the danger of self-enthronement; In William Cowper’s hymns, Adonijah’s downfall warns against pride in spiritual matters; In George Herbert’s "The Church Militant," Adonijah’s fate illustrates the folly of usurping divine order; In Christina Rossetti’s "The World," Adonijah’s beauty and ambition lead to ruin.
Additional Notes
Adonijah: Son of David who attempted to seize the throne before Solomon’s anointing (1 Kings 1–2). His story is one of presumption, political maneuvering, and eventual execution. In poetry, Adonijah embodies the danger of self-exaltation and the fragility of royal succession. His request for Abishag (1 Kings 2:13–25) becomes a fatal misstep—ideal for exploring hubris and the subtleties of power.
Also Known As
Adonijah son of David Adonijah the Usurper
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