Ten Commandments

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 foundational commandments given to Moses as the terms of Israel's covenant.

Detailed Definition
The Ten Commandments are the central laws presented to Moses at Sinai, addressing worship, reverence, violence, sexuality, property, speech, family, and desire. In poetry, they can function as a stone-like measure against which human failure and social order are tested. Their numbered form creates rhythm and authority, while their prohibitions open questions about memory, freedom, and restraint. A poem may invoke them to explore conscience, inherited law, or the gap between public righteousness and private conduct.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poet may invoke the Ten Commandments as stone-carved rules confronting human weakness; A poem can arrange ten short sections around the structure of the Ten Commandments; An allusion to Moses receiving the tablets may symbolize the search for ethical order; A modern poet may compare private promises and public laws with the authority of the Ten Commandments
Additional Notes
The Ten Commandments are the central covenant instructions given through Moses in Exodus and Deuteronomy. They address exclusive worship, reverence, Sabbath practice, family duties, truth, property, and human life. Poetic references may emphasize law, moral order, covenant identity, judgment, or the tension between command and human failure.
Also Known As
Decalogue The Ten Words Aseret HaDibrot
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