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Moses

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

Prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments

Detailed Definition
Moses, raised in Pharaoh’s court, became God’s instrument for liberation and lawgiving at Mount Sinai. In poetry, he symbolizes divine mission, leadership through adversity, and the bridge between human and divine law.
Example
Example in poetry:
In the biblical Exodus rendered poetically in the Psalms, Moses leads Israel through parted seas; In John Milton’s "Paradise Regained," Moses prefigures Christ’s law-giving; In W.H. Auden’s “For the Time Being,” Moses symbolizes liberation from oppression; In T.S. Eliot’s “Ash-Wednesday,” Moses’ mountain echoes spiritual ascent; In modern Jewish poetry, Moses often represents prophetic leadership; In Derek Walcott’s “Omeros,” Moses’ journey mirrors Caribbean exodus.
Additional Notes
Moses, biblical lawgiver and prophet who led the Israelites from Egypt, represents divine revelation, leadership under duress, and the mediator between God and people; poets invoke him in works about liberation, covenant, and the burden of prophecy—his encounter with the burning bush and reception of the Ten Commandments symbolize theophany and ethical foundation, influencing prophetic and political poetry across traditions.
Also Known As
Lawgiver Prophet of Exodus Liberator of Israel
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