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Goliath

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

The Philistine giant defeated by the young David with a sling and stone, symbolizing the triumph of faith and the underdog in biblical narrative.

Detailed Definition
Goliath of Gath, over nine feet tall, defied Israel until the young David defeated him (1 Samuel 17), marking a turning point in David’s rise. In poetry, Goliath symbolizes overwhelming odds, hubris, and the triumph of faith over brute force—frequently invoked as the archetype of the defeated tyrant.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Goliath’s defeat (1 Samuel 17) prefigures Christ’s victory over death; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "Aurora Leigh," Goliath symbolizes oppressive systems; In William Cowper’s hymns, David’s stone illustrates faith’s weapon against pride; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Goliath’s armor contrasts with David’s sling of trust; In Alfred Tennyson’s "King David," Goliath’s fall dramatizes the reversal of power; In Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market," Goliath’s size warns against the illusion of strength.
Additional Notes
Goliath: Philistine giant defeated by David (1 Samuel 17); embodies arrogance, military might, and the reversal of human odds. In poetry, Goliath is a universal symbol of overwhelming opposition, the theater of faith, and the power of the word over weapon (“You come with sword… I come in the name of the Lord”). His armor, height, and taunts offer vivid imagery—ideal for poems on courage, divine strategy, or the deconstruction of power.
Also Known As
Goliath of Gath Goliath the Philistine
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