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Jotham

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 righteous king of Judah praised for his reforms but criticized for tolerating idolatrous “high places,” symbolizing partial faithfulness.

Detailed Definition
Son of Uzziah, Jotham strengthened defenses but tolerated idolatry. His fable of trees in Judges critiques leadership. In poetry, Jotham symbolizes partial obedience, the limits of political success without spiritual purity, and wisdom expressed through parable.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Jotham’s fable (Judges 9) illustrates the danger of self-exaltation; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Jotham symbolizes the voice of warning from the mount; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Jotham’s trees choosing a king model political folly; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Jotham represents the prophet of parable; In Christina Rossetti’s "The World," Jotham’s curse prefigures the wages of ambition; In T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land," Jotham’s bramble echoes in modern leadership.
Additional Notes
Jotham: King of Judah; son of Uzziah, known for modest reforms (2 Kings 15:32–38). Also the youngest son of Gideon who told a fable of trees (Judges 9:7–15). In poetry, distinguish contexts: the king Jotham represents steady, unspectacular faithfulness; the judge’s son, prophetic satire against tyranny (“the bramble shall reign over you”). Both offer rich material—ideal for poems on leadership metaphors or the quiet reign of integrity.
Also Known As
Jotham king of Judah Jotham son of Uzziah
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