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Isaiah

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

Major Hebrew prophet whose visions of judgment, redemption, and the suffering servant profoundly influenced Judeo-Christian eschatology and ethics.

Detailed Definition
Isaiah ministered to kings, envisioned a suffering servant, and proclaimed God’s holiness. His book blends judgment and hope. In poetry, Isaiah symbolizes prophetic vision, messianic longing, and the paradox of divine transcendence meeting human suffering.
Example
Example in poetry:
In William Blake’s "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," Isaiah’s vision of seraphim challenges institutional religion; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Isaiah’s “here am I” models prophetic availability; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Isaiah’s coal purges the lips for holy speech; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Isaiah represents the poet-prophet of judgment and comfort; In Christina Rossetti’s "Later Life," Isaiah’s “swords into plowshares” inspires peace; In T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," Isaiah’s vision of the Lord high and lifted up echoes in modern awe.
Additional Notes
Isaiah: Major prophet whose book spans judgment and hope; called in a vision of seraphim (Isaiah 6), prophesied Immanuel (7:14) and the Suffering Servant (52–53). In poetry, Isaiah offers unparalleled lyrical depth, messianic imagery, and the fusion of personal call with national destiny. His “Here am I, send me” is a paradigm of vocation—ideal for poems on divine encounter, social justice, or the poetry of hope amid exile.
Also Known As
Isaiah the Prophet Isaiah son of Amoz
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