Home › Glossary › Letter A

Azariah

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

Name shared by several biblical figures, including a high priest and a prophet who advised King Asa

Detailed Definition
Azariah appears multiple times: as a priest during Uzziah’s reign (2 Chronicles 26), a prophet under Asa (2 Chronicles 15), and others in genealogies. His name means “Yahweh has helped.” In poetry, Azariah figures evoke divine assistance, priestly intercession, and the recurring theme of God raising voices of warning and encouragement in times of national crisis.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Azariah (Uzziah) is cited for his pride and leprosy (2 Chronicles 26); In William Cowper’s hymns, Azariah’s unauthorized incense offering warns against presumption; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Drama of Exile," Azariah symbolizes the peril of success; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Azariah’s fall illustrates the danger of self-exaltation; In John Keble’s "The Christian Year," Azariah’s leprosy becomes a metaphor for hidden sin; In Christina Rossetti’s devotional verse, Azariah’s punishment contrasts with Christ’s healing.
Additional Notes
Azariah: Common name (meaning “Yahweh has helped”); notable bearers include Uzziah (king of Judah, 2 Kings 15), a high priest (1 Kings 4:2), and Abednego (Dan 1:7). In poetry, Azariah/Uzziah’s leprosy (2 Chron 26:16–21) warns against priestly presumption. The name itself is theophoric—ideal for exploring divine aid, identity, or the tension between human and sacred roles. Context determines symbolic weight.
Also Known As
Azariah the High Priest Azariah son of Zadok Uzziah
Skip to main content