herod agrippa i: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic/Biblical/Literary
Quick answer
What does “herod agrippa i” mean?
A king of Judea (ruled 41–44 AD), grandson of Herod the Great, named in the New Testament as the ruler who persecuted early Christians and died a gruesome death.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A king of Judea (ruled 41–44 AD), grandson of Herod the Great, named in the New Testament as the ruler who persecuted early Christians and died a gruesome death.
A historical figure from the Herodian dynasty, used primarily in historical and biblical contexts to refer to a specific Judean monarch during the Roman period, known for his death described in the Acts of the Apostles.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or form. Pronunciation differences follow general AmE/BrE patterns for the component names.
Connotations
Identical connotations as a historical/biblical reference.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, appearing almost exclusively in specialised religious, historical, or literary contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “herod agrippa i” in a Sentence
[Subject: Herod Agrippa I] + [Verb: persecuted/executed/died] + [Object: the apostle James/early Christians]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, and classical studies texts. Example: 'The political manoeuvring of Herod Agrippa I between Rome and his Jewish subjects is a key topic.'
Everyday
Virtually never used except in religious discussion.
Technical
Used as a specific historical identifier in archaeology (e.g., coins, inscriptions), biblical scholarship, and historiography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “herod agrippa i”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “herod agrippa i”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “herod agrippa i”
- Confusing Herod Agrippa I with his son Herod Agrippa II or with Herod the Great. Omitting the Roman numeral 'I'. Incorrectly placing the stress on 'Agrippa' (should be on the second syllable: a-GRIP-pa).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great. They ruled at different times.
The primary historical sources are the New Testament (Acts 12) and the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus.
According to Acts 12:23, he was struck by an angel and 'eaten by worms' after accepting divine praise from a crowd. Josephus also records a sudden illness.
It distinguishes him from his son, Herod Agrippa II, who ruled later and appears in Acts 25-26 during Paul's trial.
A king of Judea (ruled 41–44 AD), grandson of Herod the Great, named in the New Testament as the ruler who persecuted early Christians and died a gruesome death.
Herod agrippa i is usually academic/biblical/literary in register.
Herod agrippa i: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɛr.əd əˈɡrɪp.ə ðə ˈfɜːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɛr.əd əˈɡrɪp.ə ðə ˈfɜːrst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. The biblical account of his death is sometimes referenced metaphorically: "to be eaten by worms" (from Acts 12:23).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HEROD AGRIPPA I: HEROD's GRANDson, who was A GRIeving Persecutor (AGRIP) of the church, and died ONE (I) horrible way.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE TYRANT (as a symbol of oppressive political/religious authority that meets a divine judgment).
Practice
Quiz
Herod Agrippa I is most famously mentioned in which context?