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Vessel

World Religion
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

A container, often symbolizing the human body or soul as a receptacle for the divine, spiritual gifts, or knowledge.

Detailed Definition
The human being is frequently described as an "earthen vessel" in scripture, fragile yet capable of holding great treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7). In alchemy, the vessel is the crucible of transformation. In poetry, the vessel symbolizes the self in its capacity to receive and contain grace, wisdom, or the Holy Spirit. It can represent humility, purity, and the need to be empty in order to be filled. The image speaks to the relationship between the container and the contained, the finite and the infinite.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Christian poetry, Vessel carries grace: “Clay jar—Vessel, yet holds treasure of Spirit”; In Sufi verse, heart is Vessel: “Polish your Vessel—so Love can fill you”; In Buddhist poetry, Vessel is readiness: “Empty bowl—Vessel for teacher’s wisdom”; Contemporary poets describe Vessel as body: “Scarred skin—Vessel that survived, still sings.”
Additional Notes
The Vessel metaphor appears in 2 Corinthians 4:7 (“treasure in clay jars”) and in Sufi poetry (Rumi’s “be a cup that pours”); it frames the human body or soul as a container for divine light, grace, or suffering; poets may contrast the fragility of the vessel with the durability of its contents, suggesting that brokenness itself can become a site of sacred outpouring.
Also Known As
Chalice Ark Tabernacle (as container) Grail flagon hogshead tun Warship ferry urn Ship
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