5451. sibboleth
Strong's Lexicon
sibboleth: Ear of grain, stream, flood

Original Word: סִבֹּלֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: cibboleth
Pronunciation: sib-bo'-leth
Phonetic Spelling: (sib-bo'-leth)
Definition: Ear of grain, stream, flood
Meaning: an ear of grain

Word Origin: From the root סָבַל (sabal), meaning "to bear" or "to carry."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for "sibboleth" in the Strong's Greek Dictionary, as it is a specific Hebrew term with a unique cultural context.

Usage: The term "sibboleth" primarily refers to an ear of grain, such as wheat or barley. It can also denote a stream or flood. In the context of the Bible, it is famously used as a linguistic test or shibboleth to distinguish between different groups of people based on their pronunciation.

Cultural and Historical Background: The most notable use of "sibboleth" is found in the Book of Judges, where it served as a linguistic test to identify members of the Ephraimite tribe. During a conflict between the Gileadites, led by Jephthah, and the Ephraimites, the Gileadites used the pronunciation of "sibboleth" as a password. The Ephraimites, who could not pronounce the "sh" sound, said "sibboleth" instead of "shibboleth," revealing their identity and leading to their capture or death. This incident highlights the significance of language and dialect as markers of identity in ancient Israel.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from sabal
Definition
probably an ear (of wheat, etc.)
NASB Translation
sibboleth (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
סִבֹּ֫לֶת noun feminine probably ear of wheat, etc., only Judges 12:6 dialect form of II. שִׁבֹּלֶת q. v. (> = late word שִׁבֹּ֫לֶת tide, flood); compare MarquardtZAW viii (1888), 151 ff. but also GFM Bu.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Sibboleth

For shibbol; an ear of grain -- Sibboleth.

see HEBREW shibbol

Forms and Transliterations
סִבֹּ֗לֶת סבלת sib·bō·leṯ sibBolet sibbōleṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Judges 12:6
HEB: שִׁבֹּ֜לֶת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר סִבֹּ֗לֶת וְלֹ֤א יָכִין֙
NAS: But he said, Sibboleth, for he could
KJV: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame
INT: now Shibboleth said Sibboleth not right

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 5451
1 Occurrence


sib·bō·leṯ — 1 Occ.















5450
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