The Shibboleth Test: Pride That Divides | Judges 12:4-6

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

And since today is Veterans Day, I want to pause and thank the men and women who have served in our armed forces. You’ve stood in the gap, sacrificed comfort, and protected freedom. We honor you, and we’re grateful for your courage and service.

Today’s shout-out goes to Clarence Campbell from Burton, MI. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God’s Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Judges 12:4-6.

Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh.” And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” When he said, “No,” they said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell. — Judges 12:4-6

When the conflict between Jephthah and Ephraim escalated, it turned into full-blown civil war. At the Jordan River, the Gileadites set up a simple test: say the word “Shibboleth.”

Here’s why that word mattered: Ephraimites had a regional accent. They couldn’t pronounce the “sh” sound and instead said “Sibboleth.” A single letter—one tiny sound—became the marker of life or death. If you failed the test, you were executed on the spot. Forty-two thousand brothers died—not because of a true enemy, but because of pride and petty rivalry.

It’s heartbreaking. Israel was supposed to be one people under God, fighting enemies together. Instead, they killed each other over accents. What began as wounded pride ended in a river of blood.

Pride still divides God’s people today. Churches split over style. Families fracture over opinions. Christians criticize each other over minor disputes. Small “Shibboleths” become battle lines, and the mission of God suffers.

Pride takes small differences and makes them deadly; humility sees the bigger mission and fights the right battles.

On Veterans Day, we remember men and women who laid down comfort and safety to protect unity, freedom, and peace. They remind us of what happens when courage is used to defend, not divide. Veterans stood shoulder to shoulder for something greater than themselves.

That’s what we’re called to in Christ—not uniformity, but unity under His mission. The real enemy isn’t your brother or sister in Christ. The real enemy is the sin and pride that sets us against each other.

Don’t let a “Shibboleth” ruin your relationships. Don’t let small differences blind you to the bigger battle. Jesus shed his blood to make us one family—let’s not shed each other’s blood over accents.

ASK THIS:

1. Where am I letting pride make small differences into big divisions?
2. Am I more focused on being “right” than being united in Christ?
3. How can I fight for unity instead of fighting my brothers?

DO THIS:

Identify one “Shibboleth” in your life—a small difference that’s become a point of pride or division. Surrender it to God and choose unity over rivalry.

PRAY THIS:

Father, forgive me when I let pride divide me from my brothers and sisters. Help me to see that our unity in Christ matters more than petty differences. Keep me from fighting the wrong battles and use me to build peace in Your family. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Make Us One.”