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Amasa

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

Nephew of David appointed as army commander by Absalom, later killed by Joab

Detailed Definition
Amasa, son of David’s sister Abigail, was chosen by Absalom to lead rebel forces but later reinstated by David, only to be assassinated by Joab (2 Samuel 17, 20). His fate shows political volatility. In poetry, Amasa embodies tragic loyalty, the cost of familial ties in civil strife, and the fragility of reconciliation—often portrayed as a noble figure caught between kinship and duty, sacrificed to ambition.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Amasa’s appointment by Absalom (2 Samuel 17) illustrates the chaos of rebellion; In Alfred Tennyson’s "King David," Amasa’s murder by Joab dramatizes the cost of civil war; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "A Drama of Exile," Amasa symbolizes misplaced trust; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Amasa’s fate warns against naivety in leadership; In John Keble’s "The Christian Year," Amasa’s blood cries out for justice; In Christina Rossetti’s "The World," Amasa’s loyalty is betrayed by ambition.
Additional Notes
Amasa: Nephew of David, appointed commander by Absalom, then by David after Absalom’s death; later murdered by Joab (2 Samuel 17, 20). Amasa embodies the tragic cost of civil war and misplaced trust. His delay in mustering troops (2 Sam 20:4–5) and Joab’s deceitful kiss (2 Sam 20:9–10) are dramatic moments. In poetry, he represents loyalty caught between factions and the fragility of reconciliation.
Also Known As
Amasa commander of Judah’s army Amasa son of Ithra
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