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Maranatha

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

Maranatha is an Aramaic Christian expression meaning Our Lord, come or Our Lord has come.

Detailed Definition
Maranatha appears in early Christian prayer and carries an intentional ambiguity between longing for the Lord’s return and affirming his presence. Its compact sound moves from the first communities into later liturgy and song. In poetry, Maranatha can serve as a refrain of expectation, a whispered summons in political darkness, or a phrase where absence and arrival occupy the same breath.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poet may end a prayer with “Maranatha,” using the Aramaic cry associated with longing for the Lord’s coming; “Maranatha” can serve as a refrain in a poem of hope and expectation; A poet may place the word after images of war to express a desire for renewal; Its unfamiliar sound can give the closing line a chant-like, communal force.
Additional Notes
Maranatha is an Aramaic expression preserved in early Christian worship and in 1 Corinthians 16:22. It may be read as “Our Lord, come” or, depending on how the words are divided, “Our Lord has come.” The phrase carries both longing for Christ’s return and confession of Christ’s lordship. It is especially effective in poetry as a brief prayer of hope, expectation, and devotion.
Also Known As
Maran Atha Our Lord Come
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