Shibboleth

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia · James Orr and contributors

shib'-o-leth (shibboleth): A test of speech applied by the men of Gilead to the Ephraimites, who wished to cross the Jordan, after defeat. If they pronounced the word cibboleth, their dialectic variety of speech betrayed them. (Jud 12:6). The word probably has the sense of stream or "flood" (compare Ps 69:2).

In other dictionaries

Read “Shibboleth” in the 3 dictionaries

ShibbolethEaston’s Bible Dictionary & Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
ShibbolethSmith’s Bible Dictionary

Source of the article

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia — James Orr, general editor and contributors; CrossWire SWORD module ISBE 2.2

Bible Strong digital edition from CrossWire module 2.2; historical scholarship originally published in 1915