then they said to him, “Now say ‘Shibboleth;’” and he said “Sibboleth”; for he couldn’t manage to pronounce it correctly, then they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. Letter. Prot. “Say now Shibboleth, and he said Sibboleth, for he could not frame to pronounce it right.” The interpretation of the first word is added by S. Jerom, ( Bible.) and denotes also “a running water;” ( Menochius.) whereas the Ephraimites pronounced a word which signifies “a burden,” not being able to utter properly sh, or schin, for which the substituted s, or samec, sobloth. Bible.—In the same natioin, a variety of pronunciation frequently distinguishes the inhabitants of the different provinces. The Galileans were thus known from the rest of the Jews. Matthew 26:23.