sisera: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal / Literary / Religious
Quick answer
What does “sisera” mean?
A Canaanite military commander, traditionally identified in the Bible as the commander of King Jabin's army, who was defeated by the Israelites under the prophetess Deborah and was killed by Jael.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Canaanite military commander, traditionally identified in the Bible as the commander of King Jabin's army, who was defeated by the Israelites under the prophetess Deborah and was killed by Jael.
A historical or biblical reference to an ancient enemy general, often cited in religious, literary, or cultural contexts as a symbol of a defeated oppressor or a figure of treachery and sudden downfall. It can also appear in artistic or musical works (e.g., Handel's oratorio 'Deborah') as a named character.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage or understanding between British and American English. The word is equally obscure in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes ancient history, biblical narrative, and a specific story of military defeat.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both corpora. Likely only encountered in specialized religious, historical, or classical music contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sisera” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] (as subject of 'was defeated/killed')Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, ancient history, and musicology when discussing the Book of Judges or related artworks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside specific academic disciplines mentioned above.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sisera”
- Misspelling as 'Cicera' or 'Sicera'.
- Using it as a common noun.
- Incorrectly associating it with other biblical names like 'Samson' or 'Goliath'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sisera was the commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor, as described in the Biblical Book of Judges (chapters 4-5).
No, it is an extremely rare word, confined almost entirely to discussions of the Bible, ancient history, or classical music based on biblical themes.
It is pronounced /ˈsɪsərə/ (SISS-uh-ruh), with equal stress on the first syllable in both British and American English.
While the story itself is rich in symbolic meaning (e.g., the overthrow of an oppressor), the name 'Sisera' itself is not a live metaphor in contemporary English usage.
A Canaanite military commander, traditionally identified in the Bible as the commander of King Jabin's army, who was defeated by the Israelites under the prophetess Deborah and was killed by Jael.
Sisera is usually formal / literary / religious in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common usage”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SIS-era: Think of a SIS (sister) in a bygone ERA who defeated a great enemy commander.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FALLEN TYRANT; THE DEFEATED ENEMY.
Practice
Quiz
In the biblical narrative, how was Sisera killed?