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Nathan

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 confronted David over Bathsheba and promised Davidic covenant

Detailed Definition
Nathan used a parable to expose David’s sin, then later supported Solomon’s coronation. He also delivered God’s eternal covenant with David’s line. In poetry, Nathan symbolizes prophetic courage, the power of narrative to convict, and the dual role of judge and promise-bearer—often representing the voice that both shatters and rebuilds the king’s heart.
Example
Example in poetry:
In 2 Samuel 12:7, Nathan’s “You are the man!” becomes poetic climax in dramatic monologues about prophetic courage; 17th-century verse depicts Nathan confronting David as model of speaking truth to power; Contemporary poems explore Nathan’s parable of the ewe lamb as masterful moral persuasion; In poems about accountability, Nathan embodies divine confrontation with mercy; Some liturgical laments honor Nathan as truth-teller in corridors of power; Educational poems cite Nathan to teach about prophetic imagination.
Additional Notes
Nathan was a prophet who confronted David over Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12) and later supported Solomon’s kingship; his bold truth-telling to power makes him a model of prophetic courage; poets may reference Nathan to explore moral accountability, divine justice, or the role of the truth-teller in corrupt systems.
Also Known As
Nathan the Prophet Nathan son of David
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