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Jeshurun

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

A poetic name for Israel, used in Deuteronomy and Isaiah, meaning “upright one.”

Detailed Definition
Jeshurun conveys affectionate irony, as Israel is called upright yet often rebels. In poetry, it symbolizes idealized identity, divine hope for righteousness, and the tension between chosenness and actual behavior, often used in laments or calls to fidelity.
Example
Example in poetry:
Jeshurun—poetic name for Israel—appears in lyrical poetry: “Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—forgetting the Rock of salvation”; A modern poem: “We are Jeshurun when prosperity breeds ingratitude”; In a lament: “O Jeshurun, how beautiful you were when you walked in the desert!”; Liturgical verse: “Blessed Jeshurun, upright one—may you rise again.”
Additional Notes
Jeshurun (Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5, 26; Isaiah 44:2) is a poetic, affectionate name for Israel, meaning “upright one”—ironically used when Israel acts unjustly. In poetry, Jeshurun evokes idealized identity, covenantal nostalgia, and the tension between divine designation and human failure, ideal for lyrical meditations on chosenness and apostasy.
Also Known As
Israel
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