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Elhanan

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

Warrior in David’s army credited with killing Goliath’s brother or, in some texts, Goliath himself

Detailed Definition
Elhanan son of Dodo is named in 2 Samuel 21:19 as slaying Lahmi, Goliath’s brother; a textual variant in 1 Chronicles 20:5 clarifies this. In poetry, Elhanan highlights the collaborative nature of heroism, the complexity of historical memory, and how minor warriors share in the glory of defeating giants.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Elhanan’s slaying of Goliath’s brother (2 Samuel 21) illustrates heroic faith; In Alfred Tennyson’s "King David," Elhanan’s feat is overshadowed by David’s fame; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Elhanan symbolizes the unsung warrior; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Elhanan’s courage models humble valor; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Elhanan represents the faithful soldier; In Christina Rossetti’s "Later Life," Elhanan’s name inspires quiet strength.
Additional Notes
Elhanan: Warrior who killed Goliath’s brother (2 Sam 21:19; cf. 1 Chron 20:5); sometimes confused with David. In poetry, Elhanan represents the unsung hero, the complexity of textual transmission, and the communal nature of victory. His story invites humility—ideal for poems on shared glory, historical ambiguity, or the quiet strength of secondary figures in grand narratives.
Also Known As
Elhanan son of Dodo Elhanan slayer of Goliath (variant tradition)
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