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Sisera

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

Canaanite military commander defeated by the Israelite prophetess Deborah; famously slain in his sleep by Jael, who drove a tent peg through his temple, as recounted in Judges.

Detailed Definition
Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, fled after defeat and was slain by Jael as he slept, fulfilling Deborah’s song. His death marked Israel’s deliverance. In poetry, Sisera represents the arrogance of military power, the irony of seeking refuge in the tent of a woman, and the poetic justice of defeat by the marginalized—often symbolizing the collapse of oppressive might through divine reversal.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Judges 4–5, Sisera’s death by Jael inspires Deborah’s victory song—a model for feminist poetry; Contemporary verse contrasts Sisera’s mother waiting in vain with Israel’s jubilant song; In poems about divine reversal, Sisera’s iron chariots fail against rain and courage; Some liturgical laments depict Sisera as symbol of military arrogance overturned; Educational poems cite Sisera to teach about gender, war, and providence; African American spirituals adapt Sisera’s defeat as metaphor for liberation.
Additional Notes
Sisera, commander of Jabin’s Canaanite army, is killed by Jael after fleeing battle (Judges 4–5); Deborah’s song celebrates his defeat; his death at a woman’s hand subverts warrior expectations; poets use Sisera to explore gender reversal, divine irony, or the collapse of oppressive power.
Also Known As
Sisera commander of Jabin’s army Sisera the Oppressor
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