# Password History

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/password-history/80293>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 7, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/password-history/80293 "2001-09-07T20:44:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/password-history/80293/1 "2001-09-07T20:44:40Z")

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What is the oldest known password and what is the ancient history behind.

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/password-history/80293/2 "2001-09-07T21:02:17Z")

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Didn’t the show first start airing in the early 1950’s?

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**Author:** ![45ACP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/e5b9ba/32.png) [@45ACP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/45ACP)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/password-history/80293/3 "2001-09-07T21:04:20Z")

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[http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words/shibboleth.html](http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words/shibboleth.html)

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**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/password-history/80293/4 "2001-09-07T21:10:18Z")

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**ShibbOleth** may know the answer, as her name is a password of a kind, which features in the bible, although I am not surprised if earlier examples are forthcoming.

On the other hand, she may not visit this thread, so:

**Shibboleth**

'A test word; a catch-word or principle to which members of a group adhere long after its original significance ceases; hence a worn-out or discredited doctrine. **Shibboleth** (meaning _ear of wheat, stream, or flood_) is the word the Ephraimites can not pronouncewhen they are challenged at the ford on the Jordan by their pursuers, Jephthah and the Gileadites. The Ephraimites can only say **Sibboleth** , thus revealing themselves to the enemy. (see Judges xii, 1-6).

Source: Brewer.

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/password-history/80293/5 "2001-09-07T21:19:10Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by adam yax \*  
> \*\*Didn’t the show first start airing in the early 1950’s? \*\*

The password is “shibboleth.”

**adam yax** , Pass or play?