Shibboleth

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: S By: George A. Morrish

Judges 12:6 • 1 min. read • grade level: 16

A word chosen by the Gileadites—apparently without any reference to its signification, which some take to be “an ear of corn,” and others “a stream”—by which to ascertain those that were Ephraimites, who pronounced the SH as S, making the word SIBBOLETH. As the men fled from the victorious Jephthah and approached the ford of the river, they were thus tested, and the Ephraimites, who had brought the conflict on themselves, were slain (Judg. 12:6⁶Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand. (Judges 12:6)). From this has originated the calling any watchword of a party, or indeed any particular view of truth or doctrine held by a section of the church, a mere “shibboleth.”