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Issachar

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 ninth son of Jacob and founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, associated with bearing burdens and quiet endurance (Genesis 49:14–15).

Detailed Definition
Son of Leah, Issachar’s name means “reward.” His tribe settled in fertile Jezreel Valley. In poetry, Issachar represents insight (“men who understand the times”), agricultural blessing, and the wisdom of discerning seasons for action.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Issachar’s blessing (Genesis 49) illustrates the burden-bearer; In William Blake’s "The Four Zoas," Issachar represents patient labor; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Issachar symbolizes the tribe that understands the times; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Issachar’s donkey crouching between burdens models humble service; In John Keble’s "Lyra Innocentium," Issachar represents the worker in the vineyard; In Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market," Issachar’s strength prefigures communal support.
Additional Notes
Issachar: Son of Jacob; tribe known for discernment (“understanding of the times,” 1 Chronicles 12:32). In poetry, Issachar embodies strategic wisdom, the value of timing, and the quiet strength of insight over force. Jacob’s blessing (Genesis 49:14–15) calls him a “strong donkey”—ideal for poems on labor, rest, or the dignity of bearing burdens with awareness.
Also Known As
Issachar son of Jacob Issachar the Strong Ass
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