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Matthew

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

Former tax collector called by Jesus to be an apostle; traditionally credited with authoring the first Gospel, emphasizing Jesus as fulfillment of Jewish law.

Detailed Definition
Matthew, also called Levi, left his booth to follow Jesus and wrote a Gospel emphasizing Jesus as fulfillment of Jewish prophecy. In poetry, Matthew symbolizes radical conversion, the inclusion of outcasts in divine mission, and the scribe who treasures old and new—often representing the bridge between fiscal corruption and spiritual accounting.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Matthew 9:9, “Follow me” becomes poetic call to radical reorientation in George Herbert’s conversion poems; Medieval art-inspired verse depicts Matthew with angel emblem, symbolizing divine inspiration; T.S. Eliot references Matthew’s genealogy in “Four Quartets” to explore ancestral grace; Contemporary poetry honors Matthew as tax collector who recorded Jesus’ teachings for Jewish audiences; In poems about inclusion, Matthew embodies Christ’s welcome to societal outcasts; Some liturgical calendars include poetic tributes to Matthew on September 21.
Additional Notes
Matthew, also called Levi, was a tax collector turned apostle and Gospel writer; his profession made him a social outcast, yet his Gospel emphasizes Jesus as fulfillment of Jewish prophecy; poets may use Matthew to explore themes of calling, transformation, or the intersection of sacred and secular record-keeping.
Also Known As
Matthew the Apostle Levi the Tax Collector Matthew the Evangelist
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