Keraia
Judges 12

Judges 12:6

Jephthah Defeats Ephraim · Judges 12:1–7
Read Judges 12

Translations

Modern
…they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.
Traditional
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 Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.
Literal
…they would say to him, “Say, please, Shibboleth.” And he would say, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it correctly. And they would take him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim forty-two thousand.
Latin
…interrogabant eum: Dic ergo Scibboleth, quod interpretatur Spica. Qui respondebat: Sibboleth: eadem littera spicam exprimere non valens. Statimque apprehensum jugulabant in ipso Jordanis transitu. Et ceciderunt in illo tempore de Ephraim quadraginta duo millia.

Original

Hebrew
English
…they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.

Notes

Judges 12:6

  • The term Shibboleth is now used to mean any password used to identify imposters. Armies have used such linguistic tests throughout history.

  • 42,000 Ephraimites: This number might also mean "42 troops" (see study note on Exodus 12:37).

Judges 12:1–6

Ephraim felt neglected again (see Judges 8:1–3) and wanted revenge. Unlike Gideon's approach, Jephthah blamed Ephraim, leading to a civil war.

Theme notes and profiles

Social Chaos in Judges

Events

People

Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel Shibboleth: A Hebrew word used to identify Ephraimites

Places

Jordan: A river and region, significant in Israel's history

Glossary

Ephraim, Tribe of Forest of Ephraim Hebrew Language Jephthah Jordan River Judges, Book of Shibboleth Sibboleth

Topics

Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Defeated by Him Israel: Under the Judges: The Ephraimites Go to War Against Other Tribes Jordan: Fords of Judge: Jephthah Language: Dialects of the Jews Shibboleth: General Scriptures Concerning Strife: Jephthah and the Ephraimites the River Jordan: Fordable in some Places the River Jordan: Remarkable Events Connected With: Slaughter of the Ephraimites the Tribe of Manasseh: Often at War with Ephraim Tribe of Ephraim: Defeated and Many Slain War: Civil