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Bartholomew

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

One of the twelve apostles, traditionally identified with Nathanael, praised in the Gospel of John for his guileless character.

Detailed Definition
Bartholomew, listed among the Twelve, may be Nathanael whom Jesus called “an Israelite indeed.” Tradition holds he preached in India and Armenia. In poetry, Bartholomew represents guileless faith, the seeker who recognizes Christ without pretense, and the quiet integrity that undergirds apostolic witness—often symbolizing the transparency that invites divine revelation.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Bartholomew (Nathanael) is part of the apostolic foundation; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Bartholomew’s guilelessness (John 1:47) models integrity; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Bartholomew’s martyrdom symbolizes witness; In John Keble’s "The Christian Year," Bartholomew represents the apostle without deceit; In Christina Rossetti’s "Later Life," Bartholomew’s simplicity inspires; In T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," Bartholomew’s faith under the fig tree prefigures revelation.
Additional Notes
Bartholomew: Apostle, likely Nathanael (John 1:45–51); known for initial skepticism (“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”). In poetry, Bartholomew represents honest doubt transformed into confession (“Rabbi, you are the Son of God”). His guilelessness (John 1:47) is a virtue—useful in poems on authenticity, revelation, or the journey from skepticism to faith. Tradition holds he was martyred—adds weight to witness.
Also Known As
Bartholomew the Apostle Nathanael
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