Insider Terminology of the Twelve Tribes

Overview

• Over time, the Tribes have internally normalized the use of certain words that outsiders may not automatically understand.

• This page provides a dictionary (glossary) for terminology that the Tribes uses.

• Most of the Tribes’ insider terms are either pulled from the Hebrew language or are English words that are given new meanings.¹

• Regions of the world are called by the name of the Tribe associated with that region. For example, instead of saying “Canada,” members would say “Gad.”

• Ethnicities are referred to using [artificial] Hebrew terms, based on their [incorrect] biblical origins. White people are “Shemites.” Black people are “Chamites.” Asians are “Yapheth.”

• Terminology sometimes changes over time. For example, the word “Christian” was included in a previous (official) name for the Tribes, but they now strongly condemn “Christian.” The tribe named “Yehudah” was previously called “Judah.” The tribe of “Levi” used to be identified as the country of Germany, but is now identified as the Czech Republic.

Glossary of Twelve Tribes Terminology

Anointing: Spiritual state or authority, needed to properly understand “inner” teachings.

Apostolic Center: A regional hub within a specific tribe where high-level leaders (such as elders and apostolic workers) are established to oversee local clans and coordinate regional activities.

Apostolic Worker: A high-ranking leader or “Sent One” who coordinates multiple tribes and serves as a primary representative for the group’s top authority.

Babylon (or Babel): A term describing “organized religion,” specifically modern Christianity, which the group views as a man-made system of confusion and a spiritual “harlot.”

Breaking of Bread: A candlelit ritual (roughly equivalent to Communion or “The Lord’s Supper”) held on Saturday nights around 10:00pm. It is restricted to baptized members, who attend barefoot and participate in prayer and singing.

Kahal (Cahal or Qahal): The governmental or judicial assembly where appointed representatives and elders gather to make authoritative decisions for the community.

Clan: A local community consisting of one or more large households that functions as a self-governing unit within a specific tribe.

Covering: A spiritual authority figure, such as a husband or an elder, to whom a member is accountable to ensure there is “no independent action.”

Cut Off: The removal of a person (or group of people) from the community due to sin or attitude issues (such as rebelliousness). The rest of the community is obligated to shun them, and if they are told they are destined for eternal punishment if they do not repent.

Edah: The Hebrew word for “community.”

Elohim: The Hebrew name used by the group to refer to God.

First Death: A temporary state after physical death where disembodied spirits pay the “just wages” for sins committed within the boundaries of their conscience.

Freepaper: Literature produced by the communities to spread their message and invite outsiders to visit their homes or farms.

Friday Night: The beginning of the Saturday Sabbath, which includes an evening “gathering” (larger event geared partially intended for recruitment of new members) with a nicer meal (“evening shadows” is the name given to the hors d’oeuvres served at this meal). The day prior is “Preparation Day” in which the whole house is cleaned.

Grafting: The spiritual process by which individuals from “the nations” are brought into the group to become part of the restored Twelve Tribes.

Ha-Emeq: The Hebrew name for Marsha Spriggs, the wife of the group’s founder, who serves as a central figure in high-level leadership.

Hades (or Sheol): The temporary “unseen realm” where departed souls await final judgment after the first death.

Israel: Within the community, this refers to their restored twelve-tribed spiritual nation rather than the modern political state in the Middle East.

Intertribal News: A publication (abbreviation “ITN”) produced by the Tribes and distributed to members, geared toward providing updates from various tribes/communities/members and to teach the Tribes’ beliefs and perspectives.

Lawlessness: Any “independent action” or movement by a member that occurs outside the direction of their spiritual authority or the community’s government.

Male Child: A prophesied group of 144,000 youth raised within the tribes to be “almost perfect” and rule the universe in the next age.

Minchah: The ritualized morning and evening gatherings where members worship through song, circle dancing, and sharing of thoughts.

School of the Prophets: A specialized branch of the group’s government that oversees “prophecy” and ensures that the community’s music and teachings remain spiritually consistent.

Scions: Mortal human beings who repent at the end of the age and live through into the next 1,000-year millennial reign without dying.

Second Death: Eternal condemnation in the Lake of Fire, which is the final destination for the “Unjust and Filthy.”

Sexton: A specific member of a community household responsible for the physical care, cleaning, and upkeep of the property.

Stone Kingdom: The group’s identity as the prophesied “stone” that will roll down the mountain to crush all man-made governments.

Swarming: The process where a community becomes full and a group of members leaves to establish a new community in a nearby location.

The Holy: The category of mankind consisting of the redeemed members of the Tribes who are destined to rule over the universe.

The Righteous: “Good” people of the world who followed their conscience but never joined the Tribes; they are granted a “second life” in eternity.

The Rod: The implement used by parents to administer “stripes that wound” to a child’s bottom to end rebellion and reach the heart.

The Underground: A term describing secret dissent, independent thinking, or undisclosed sins.

Three Eternal Destinies: The core doctrine that there are three final states for mankind: the Holy, the Righteous, and the Unjust and Filthy.

Tribe: One of twelve designated geographic regions worldwide, each composed of various community households and clans.

Unjust and Filthy: The category of people who have rejected their conscience and are destined for eternal punishment in the second death.

Way-Out House: A transitional residence established by the community in various geographic areas as a place where seekers can begin to learn about and join the Tribes’ lifestyle.

Yahshua: The Hebrew name for Jesus, which the group believes is the only true name of the Savior.

Yoneq: The Hebrew name for the group’s founder, Gene Spriggs, who is viewed as the primary spiritual authority and teacher.

Footnotes

1. Some of the Tribes’ terms have biblical connections, though many of them have been given different definitions compared to biblical usage. Some of the Tribes’ religious terms are not found in biblical Scripture at all. The Tribes sometimes uses Hebrew for terms that the New Testament does not use Hebrew for. ↩