Word of the Day - 9/8/2008

Sibilant

A sibilant is a consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh) .

While prophesying the fall of Egypt, Jeremiah claims that the Egyptians will retreat making the sibilant sound of the serpent at the prospect of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army encroaching upon them. (Job 46:22)

"Its sound moves along like a serpent;
For they move on like an army
And come to her as woodcutters with axes. (Job 46:22, NASB)

The NIV reads this as "Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent". (Jeremiah 46:22a)

Note: This is contemporary German artist C. Werthheimer's interpretation of "The Fate of Egypt".