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Red Sea

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

The Red Sea is the body of water crossed by Israel during the Exodus.

Detailed Definition
At the Red Sea, Moses stretches out his hand, waters divide, and an enslaved people passes between walls of danger before the pursuing army is overwhelmed. The event is a central biblical image of deliverance through impossible passage. In poetry, the Red Sea may signify liberation, perilous transition, or the narrow corridor between a former life and a future that has not yet become safe.
Example
Example in poetry:
The Red Sea can represent an impossible barrier opened by faith; “We crossed the Red Sea of doubt” turns the Exodus into a metaphor for spiritual change; A poet may describe parted waters as “walls of blue flame” to create visual imagery; The phrase can also suggest liberation from slavery, fear, or oppression.
Additional Notes
The Red Sea crossing in Exodus 14 represents deliverance from slavery, divine protection, and passage into a new identity. Its imagery of divided waters, dry ground, wind, and pursuing armies often supports poems about liberation, danger overcome, or faith under pressure. The Hebrew name may also be translated “Sea of Reeds.”
Also Known As
Sea of Reeds Reed Sea Yam Suph
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