Philistine is the term used to describe the inhabitants of the ancient area of Philistia, who settled in around the 12th or 11th century B.C. The city was located in what is now the southern area of Palestine.
The term is most commonly found in the bible, as the Old Testament recounts the history of Israel (who are described as God's chosen people) and their many fights and wars with the Philistine people. The term philistine is used today as a derogatory slur, often describing a person who does not value, or does not like, cultures such as art or theatre. It is also used to describe those who do not hold values such as intellect, spirituality or beauty in a high regard.
The term originates from the people group of Philistia, who are often portrayed as barbaric and uncultured due to the biblical writings about them. It is important to remember that the Old Testament portion of the bible was largely written by enemies of the Philistine people and as such, personal feelings of the Philistines could have led to them being negatively portrayed. Recent historical findings have shown that the Philistine people were actually very well cultured with their use of pottery and housing as well as burial rituals.
In terms of using the word philistine in a sentence, it would largely depend on the context you are in. If you are in a religious or historical debate then it may be pertinent to discuss the history of the Philistine people, or the origin of the word philistine. If you are looking to use the term philistine in a more derogatory manner, which is obviously inadvisable, then it is important to look at the modern definition of the term 'philistine' listed above.
The term is most commonly found in the bible, as the Old Testament recounts the history of Israel (who are described as God's chosen people) and their many fights and wars with the Philistine people. The term philistine is used today as a derogatory slur, often describing a person who does not value, or does not like, cultures such as art or theatre. It is also used to describe those who do not hold values such as intellect, spirituality or beauty in a high regard.
The term originates from the people group of Philistia, who are often portrayed as barbaric and uncultured due to the biblical writings about them. It is important to remember that the Old Testament portion of the bible was largely written by enemies of the Philistine people and as such, personal feelings of the Philistines could have led to them being negatively portrayed. Recent historical findings have shown that the Philistine people were actually very well cultured with their use of pottery and housing as well as burial rituals.
In terms of using the word philistine in a sentence, it would largely depend on the context you are in. If you are in a religious or historical debate then it may be pertinent to discuss the history of the Philistine people, or the origin of the word philistine. If you are looking to use the term philistine in a more derogatory manner, which is obviously inadvisable, then it is important to look at the modern definition of the term 'philistine' listed above.
