Home › Glossary › Letter O

Onesiphorus

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

Faithful friend of Paul who refreshed him in Rome and sought him in Ephesus

Detailed Definition
Onesiphorus is praised in 2 Timothy 1:16–18 for his unwavering support when others deserted Paul. In poetry, he symbolizes loyal friendship in adversity, the courage to seek out the imprisoned, and how small acts of kindness sustain apostolic endurance.
Example
Example in poetry:
In 2 Timothy 1:16–18, Onesiphorus’s hospitality inspires devotional poetry about encouragement; 19th-century verse depicts Onesiphorus searching for Paul in Rome as act of courage; Contemporary poems honor Onesiphorus as unsung hero of the early church; In poems about refreshment, Onesiphorus brings warmth to prison cold; Some liturgical laments pray for Onesiphorus’s household as models of steadfast love; Educational poems cite Onesiphorus to teach about faithfulness in persecution.
Additional Notes
Onesiphorus, praised in 2 Timothy for his faithful hospitality to Paul in Rome, “was not ashamed of my chains”; his family is also commended; he exemplifies steadfast friendship in persecution, offering a model for poems on loyalty, courage, and the quiet heroism of everyday faithfulness.
Also Known As
Onesiphorus of Ephesus Onesiphorus the Faithful
Skip to main content