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Mesha

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

King of Moab who rebelled against Israel and sacrificed his son in a desperate act of war.

Detailed Definition
Mesha’s revolt (2 Kings 3) and the Mesha Stone provide historical context. In poetry, he symbolizes pagan desperation, the horror of child sacrifice, and the brutal calculus of ancient warfare, often evoking themes of idolatry and despair.
Example
Example in poetry:
Mesha—Moabite king who rebelled—appears in poetic irony: “Mesha sacrificed his son, and Israel withdrew—but at what cost?”; A poem on desperate measures: “Mesha’s altar burned with his heir—war’s ultimate price”; In a lament: “Even victory at Mesha’s hand left a stench in God’s nostrils”; Modern verse: “Our Mesha moments are when we win by losing our soul.”
Additional Notes
Migdol (Exodus 14:2; Jeremiah 44:1; 46:14) means “tower” and refers to Egyptian fortresses near the Red Sea. It marks the edge of Egypt during the Exodus and appears in oracles against Egypt. In poetry, Migdol symbolizes the threshold of liberation, the watchtowers of empire, and the divine reversal of military power at the sea.
Also Known As
King Mesha
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