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Drusilla

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

Wife of Roman governor Felix who heard Paul’s message in Caesarea

Detailed Definition
Drusilla, sister of Bernice and Agrippa II, was present when Paul spoke of righteousness and judgment before Felix (Acts 24:24). In poetry, she signifies the encounter between gospel truth and imperial decadence—often portrayed as one who heard the word but remained unmoved, symbolizing near-miss conversion.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Drusilla’s presence with Felix (Acts 24) frames Paul’s defense; In T.S. Eliot’s "The Rock," Drusilla represents worldly curiosity about faith; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "A Drama of Exile," Drusilla symbolizes political entanglement; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Drusilla’s proximity to truth without conversion warns; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Drusilla embodies the near-miss of grace; In W.H. Auden’s "For the Time Being," Drusilla illustrates the spectator of salvation.
Additional Notes
Drusilla: Wife of Felix, present at Paul’s trial (Acts 24:24); sister of Bernice, daughter of Herod Agrippa I. In poetry, Drusilla symbolizes the encounter between gospel and decadent power, the unrecorded response to truth, and the vulnerability of women in political marriages. Her Jewish heritage and Roman life create tension—ideal for monologues on curiosity, fear, or the cost of conversion.
Also Known As
Drusilla wife of Felix Drusilla daughter of Agrippa
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