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Eliakim

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 royal steward under King Hezekiah mentioned in Isaiah, later replaced by Shebna; symbolizes divine appointment and administrative authority.

Detailed Definition
Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, was entrusted with palace authority and symbolized stability during Assyrian threat. Isaiah likened him to a peg in a secure place. In poetry, Eliakim represents faithful stewardship, the weight of delegated power, and the hope of reliable leadership in crisis—often evoking the metaphor of the secure peg that holds the household together.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Eliakim’s stewardship (Isaiah 22) prefigures Christ’s keys; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Eliakim’s key symbolizes divine authority; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Eliakim’s replacement of Shebna models divine appointment; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Eliakim represents the faithful administrator; In Christina Rossetti’s "Advent," Eliakim’s key opens the house of David; In T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," Eliakim’s office prefigures Petrine authority.
Additional Notes
Eliakim: Name of several, notably Hezekiah’s steward (Isaiah 22:20–25) and Jesus’ ancestor (Matt 1:13). In Isaiah, Eliakim is a “peg in a secure place,” symbolizing reliable leadership—later contrasted with Shebna’s pride. In poetry, Eliakim embodies trustworthiness, the weight of office, and the metaphor of the key (Isa 22:22; cf. Rev 3:7). Ideal for poems on responsibility, legacy, or Christological typology.
Also Known As
Eliakim son of Hilkiah Eliakim steward of Hezekiah Jehoiakim
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