Home › Glossary › Letter J

Jehoshaphat

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

Biblical king of Judah renowned for piety and divine favor, often referenced in poetry as a model of righteous leadership and faith.

Detailed Definition
Jehoshaphat allied with Israel but promoted justice and teaching of the Law. His prayer before battle inspired trust. In poetry, Jehoshaphat symbolizes reliance on divine guidance, the power of communal prayer, and the complexities of faithful alliances in a divided world.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Jehoshaphat’s prayer (2 Chronicles 20) illustrates faith in battle; In William Cowper’s hymns, Jehoshaphat’s singers before the army celebrate trust in God; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Jehoshaphat symbolizes the king who seeks the Lord; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab warns against political compromise; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Jehoshaphat represents the reformer who sometimes falters; In Christina Rossetti’s "Later Life," Jehoshaphat’s valley becomes a site of divine victory.
Additional Notes
Jehoshaphat: King of Judah known for piety, alliance with Ahab, and prayer before battle (“we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you,” 2 Chron 20). In poetry, Jehoshaphat symbolizes trust in crisis, the danger of unequal alliances, and liturgical warfare (sending singers ahead of troops). His name (“Yahweh judges”) reflects his reliance on divine justice—ideal for poems on communal prayer, discernment, or the music of faith.
Also Known As
Jehoshaphat king of Judah Jehoshaphat son of Asa
Skip to main content