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Amittai

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

Father of the prophet Jonah, mentioned in the opening verse of the Book of Jonah.

Detailed Definition
Though Amittai is otherwise unknown, his name roots Jonah in a specific lineage. In poetry, paternal names like his lend authenticity and humanize prophetic figures, subtly emphasizing that divine messengers emerge from ordinary familial contexts.
Example
Example in poetry:
Amittai—father of Jonah—appears in poetic allusions to reluctant prophets: “Son of Amittai, why flee the word that named you?”; A modern poem: “Amittai’s boy slept in the ship’s belly, dreaming of dry land and denial”; In a meditation on lineage: “Greatness often hides in the father’s name—Amittai, who raised a storm-tossed prophet”; Liturgical verse: “Remember Amittai, whose son returned from the deep with a second chance.”
Additional Notes
Amittai, father of Jonah (Jonah 1:1), is otherwise unknown, yet his name (“my truth” or “faithful”) may subtly frame Jonah’s story of evasion and grace. The brevity of his mention contrasts with the theological depth of his son’s book, which explores divine mercy beyond ethnic boundaries. Poets might use Amittai to evoke paternal legacy or the quiet roots of prophetic calling.
Also Known As
truthful one Jonah father prophetic lineage
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