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Delilah

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

A Philistine woman who discovered and exploited Samson’s secret, leading to his capture.

Detailed Definition
Delilah’s betrayal (Judges 16) intertwines love, deception, and national conflict. In poetry, she embodies the femme fatale archetype, the danger of trust misplaced, and the vulnerability of divine strength to human weakness and desire.
Example
Example in poetry:
Delilah—Philistine temptress—inspires cautionary poetry: “Delilah’s lap was softer than prison, but just as binding”; A modern poem: “We all have our Delilah—the voice that says, ‘Just compromise a little’”; In a feminist retelling: “Delilah was paid to betray—what price would break you?”; Dramatic monologue: “I was Delilah—I loved him, but silver spoke louder.”
Additional Notes
Delilah (Judges 16) extracts Samson’s secret through persistent manipulation, leading to his capture by the Philistines. Though often vilified, her motives are ambiguous—possibly coerced or patriotic. In poetry, Delilah is a complex figure of desire, betrayal, and agency, useful for exploring the ethics of love, loyalty, and national identity.
Also Known As
Dalila
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