Judges 12:5-7

International Standard Version

Shibboleth vs. Sibboleth

⁵ The descendants of Gilead seized control of the Jordan River’s fords along the border of Ephraim’s territory.^[a] Later on, when any fugitive from Ephraim asked them, “Let me cross over,” the men from Gilead would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said “No,” ⁶ they would order him, “Pronounce the word ‘Shibboleth’ right now.” If he said “Sibboleth,” not being able to pronounce it correctly, they would seize him and slaughter him there at the fords of the Jordan River. During those days 42,000 descendants of Ephraim died that way. ⁷ Jephthah governed Israel for six years. Then Jephthah died and was buried somewhere in the cities of Gilead.