Home › Glossary › Letter H

Hermas

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

Early Christian greeted by Paul in Romans, possibly brother of Asyncritus

Detailed Definition
Hermas is listed in Romans 16:14 among believers in Rome. Though obscure, his mention reflects the network of faithful individuals sustaining the church. In poetry, Hermas symbolizes the quiet fidelity of unnamed saints, the web of relationships that uphold gospel communities, and the dignity of being remembered by apostolic affection.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Hermas (Romans 16:14) is part of the network of early believers; In George Herbert’s "The Temple," Hermas’s name evokes the faithful unknown; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Hermas symbolizes the obscure saint; In John Keble’s "The Christian Year," Hermas represents the quiet witness; In Christina Rossetti’s devotional poetry, Hermas’s name evokes the communion of saints; In T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," names like Hermas illustrate the pattern of providence.
Additional Notes
Hermas: Mentioned in Romans 16:14; possibly the author of the early Christian text “The Shepherd of Hermas.” In poetry, Hermas represents the bridge between apostolic and sub-apostolic eras, and the devotional literature of early Christianity. Though obscure in the Bible, his later association invites reflection on the expansion of canonical boundaries—ideal for poems on spiritual mentorship, penitence, or the evolution of Christian thought.
Also Known As
Hermas of the Shepherd Hermas brother of Pius I (tradition)
Skip to main content