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Solomon

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

Israel’s wisest king, son of David, famed for judgment, wealth, and building the First Temple in Jerusalem.

Detailed Definition
Solomon’s legendary wisdom, wealth, and eventual idolatry make him a complex figure of brilliance and moral decline. In poetry, he symbolizes the heights of human wisdom and its vulnerability to excess.
Example
Example in poetry:
In the biblical Song of Solomon, lyrical poetry celebrates love with rich natural imagery; In John Milton’s "Paradise Regained," Solomon’s wisdom prefigures Christ’s; In W.H. Auden’s “For the Time Being,” Solomon represents judicial discernment; In T.S. Eliot’s “Ash-Wednesday,” Solomon’s temple echoes spiritual aspiration; In modern Jewish poetry, Solomon often signifies wisdom, wealth, and moral complexity; In Derek Walcott’s “Omeros,” Solomon’s judgment appears in Caribbean disputes.
Additional Notes
Solomon, biblical king renowned for wisdom, wealth, and the construction of the Temple, symbolizes discernment (e.g., the judgment of the two mothers), divine favor, and the dangers of excess (his many wives); poets invoke him in works about justice, erotic love (Song of Songs), or the transience of earthly glory—his ring and throne appear in mystical and allegorical traditions.
Also Known As
Wise King Builder of the Temple Judge of Israel King Solomon
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