Is it “Shibboleth” or “Sibboleth”? The Gileadites came up with a clever test to distinguish between their friends and their enemies (12:1–6). Knowing that the rival Ephraimites spoke a slightly different dialect, they asked them to say the word “Shibboleth.” The Ephraimites pronounced the word with an “s” rather than a “sh” sound, thus making them easy to spot. Today, a “shibboleth” is a word or expression of belief that “insiders” use to determine who is an “outsider.” Thus, if a person doesn’t express his beliefs using just the right words, he may be rejected by a particular group.