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Peter

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

Chief apostle of Jesus, who denied him three times before the crucifixion

Detailed Definition
Peter, despite his denial, became the rock of the Church, symbolizing repentance and leadership. In poetry, he embodies human frailty, forgiveness, and foundational faith.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Christian poetry like George Herbert’s “The Collar,” Peter embodies faith and denial; In Dante’s "Divine Comedy," Peter guards Heaven’s gate; In W.H. Auden’s “For the Time Being,” Peter’s denial signifies human frailty; In T.S. Eliot’s “Ash-Wednesday,” Peter’s tears echo repentance; In modern interfaith poetry, Peter often represents foundational leadership; In Tracy K. Smith’s “Watershed,” Peter’s keys inform access to justice.
Additional Notes
Peter, apostle and “rock” of the Church, represents faith, denial (three times before the cock crowed), and leadership; poets reference his keys to heaven, his walking on water, or his martyrdom to explore doubt, redemption, and institutional authority—his impulsive nature contrasts with Paul’s intellectualism in Christian poetic typology.
Also Known As
Rock of the Church Fisherman Apostle Denier of Christ
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