Shibboleth

:For the Internet2 research project, see Shibboleth (Internet2).

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Shibboleth is the Hebrew word that literally means "torrent of water" or "stream".http://www.bartleby.com/68/39/5439.html In the Hebrew Bible, pronunciation of this word was used to distinguish members of a group whose dialect lacked a "sh" sound from members of a group whose dialect included such a sound. The consequences of getting it wrong were fatal:

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Word - Hebrew Bible - Dialect

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:And the Gileadites seized the passages of the Jordan before the Ephraimites; and it was so, that when those Ephraimites who had escaped said, "Let me go over," that the men of Gilead said unto him, "Art thou an Ephraimite?" If he said, "Nay," then 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 the Jordan; and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand. (Judges 12:5-6, King James Version of the Bible)

Related Topics:
Gilead - Jordan - Ephraim - Judges - King James Version of the Bible

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