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Medes

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

An ancient people who, with Persians, conquered Babylon and allowed Jewish exiles to return.

Detailed Definition
The Medes appear in Daniel and Esther as instruments of divine judgment and restoration. In poetry, they symbolize the rise and fall of empires, the unexpected agents of liberation, and the geopolitical machinery of providence.
Example
Example in poetry:
Medes—empire that overthrew Babylon—inspires prophetic poetry: “The Medes will not value silver—only vengeance”; A modern poem: “Our Medes are the instruments God raises when empires rot”; In a sonnet on judgment: “Darius the Mede sat where Belshazzar feasted”; Historical verse: “Blessed Medes, unwitting agents of divine reversal.”
Additional Notes
Meribah (Exodus 17:7; Numbers 20:13) means “quarreling,” where Israel tested God by demanding water. Moses’ striking the rock here (instead of speaking) cost him entry to Canaan. In poetry, Meribah embodies human doubt, the peril of leadership under pressure, and the tension between divine patience and human impatience in the wilderness.
Also Known As
Median
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