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Miriam

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

Prophetess and sister of Moses who led Israelite women in song after crossing the Red Sea, symbolizing joy and faith.

Detailed Definition
Miriam watched Moses in the Nile, led victory dance after Red Sea, but was later struck with leprosy for rebellion. In poetry, Miriam embodies female leadership, communal celebration, and the tension between prophetic authority and human pride.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Exodus 15:20, Miriam leads women with timbrel—a moment celebrated in African American spirituals; Denise Levertov’s “Miriam” portrays her as prophetess whose song shapes communal memory; Contemporary feminist poetry honors Miriam as co-liberator alongside Moses and Aaron; In poems about water, Miriam’s well becomes symbol of divine provision in wilderness; Some liturgical laments recall her leprosy and healing as cycle of sin and restoration; Educational poems cite Miriam to teach about women’s leadership in liberation.
Additional Notes
Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron, is a prophetess who leads women in song after the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 15); later punished for challenging Moses’ authority, her story blends leadership, celebration, and human frailty—ideal for poems on communal joy, sibling rivalry, or the cost of prophetic voice.
Also Known As
Miriam sister of Moses Miriam the Prophetess
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