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Barak

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

Israelite general who, under the prophetess Deborah’s command, led troops to victory over Canaanite commander Sisera.

Detailed Definition
Barak hesitated to go to battle without Deborah’s presence, yet led Israel to victory over Jabin’s forces at Mount Tabor. His story highlights collaborative leadership. In poetry, Barak symbolizes reluctant courage, the necessity of prophetic partnership, and the triumph of faith over fear—often contrasted with Jael’s decisive action to explore varied forms of heroism.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Barak’s hesitation (Judges 4–5) illustrates the need for Deborah’s leadership; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "Aurora Leigh," Barak symbolizes reluctant obedience; In William Cowper’s hymns, Barak’s victory at Mount Tabor celebrates divine deliverance; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Barak’s dependence on Deborah models humility; In John Keble’s "Lyra Innocentium," Barak represents the warrior led by wisdom; In Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market," Barak’s army prefigures communal resistance to evil.
Additional Notes
Barak: Judge who, with Deborah, defeated Sisera (Judges 4–5). His reluctance (“I will go if you go”) contrasts with Jael’s decisive action. In poetry, Barak embodies qualified courage—faithful yet hesitant. The Song of Deborah (Judges 5) offers rich poetic material. Use Barak to explore partnership, gender roles in leadership, or the tension between divine call and human hesitation.
Also Known As
Barak son of Abinoam Barak the Commander
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