Grumble
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Definition and Usage:
Grumbling, in a biblical context, refers to the act of complaining or expressing dissatisfaction, often in a low, muttering manner. It is typically characterized by a lack of faith and trust in God's provision and plan. Grumbling is seen as a negative behavior that reflects a rebellious or ungrateful heart.

Biblical Instances:

1. The Israelites in the Wilderness:
One of the most notable examples of grumbling in the Bible is the behavior of the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Despite witnessing numerous miracles, the Israelites frequently complained about their circumstances. In Exodus 16:2-3 , it is recorded, "And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 'If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt,' they said. 'There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!'"

2. The Consequences of Grumbling:
The Israelites' grumbling led to severe consequences. In Numbers 14:27-29 , God responds to their complaints, saying, "How long will this wicked congregation grumble against Me? I have heard the complaints that the Israelites are making against Me. So tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me."

3. New Testament Warnings:
The New Testament also addresses the issue of grumbling. In Philippians 2:14-15 , Paul exhorts believers, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world." This passage highlights the importance of maintaining a positive and faithful attitude as a testimony to others.

4. Jude's Warning:
Jude warns against grumblers in Jude 1:16 , describing them as "grumblers and faultfinders who follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage." This passage associates grumbling with a broader pattern of sinful behavior and self-centeredness.

Theological Implications:

Grumbling is often seen as a symptom of a deeper spiritual issue—namely, a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and goodness. It reflects a heart that is not content with God's provision and timing. The Bible encourages believers to cultivate gratitude and trust, recognizing that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Practical Application:

Believers are called to replace grumbling with gratitude and trust. This involves a conscious effort to focus on God's faithfulness and blessings, even in difficult circumstances. By doing so, Christians can maintain a testimony that honors God and reflects His light to the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.

2. (v. i.) To growl; to snarl in deep tones; as, a lion grumbling over his prey.

3. (v. i.) To rumble; to make a low, harsh, and heavy sound; to mutter; as, the distant thunder grumbles.

4. (v. t.) To express or utter with grumbling.

5. (n.) The noise of one that grumbles.

6. (n.) A grumbling, discontented disposition.

Greek
1111. gogguzo -- to mutter, murmur
... to mutter, murmur. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: gogguzo Phonetic Spelling:
(gong-good'-zo) Short Definition: I whisper, murmur, grumble Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1111.htm - 7k

1234. diagogguzo -- to murmur among themselves
... 1234 (an onomatopoetic term imitating the sound of cooing doves and humming bees) --
constantly, intensely (grumble, complain) -- an intensified form of 1111 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1234.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
7279. ragan -- to murmur, whisper
... slanderer (1), whisperer (3). murmur. A primitive root; to grumble, ie Rebel --
murmur. 7278, 7279. ragan. 7280 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7279.htm - 5k

3885b. lun -- to murmur
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to murmur NASB Word Usage growl (1), grumble
(4), grumbled (7), grumbling (2), making (1). 3885a, 3885b. lun. 3886 . ...
/hebrew/3885b.htm - 5k

Library

Freedom.
... When they are sons and daughters, they will no longer complain of the hardships,
and miseries, and troubles of life; no longer grumble at their aches and pains ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/freedom.htm

Joy, a Duty
... When the Lord sends you affliction, sister, you generally grumble loudly enough;
when the Lord tries you, my dear brother, you generally speak fast enough ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 41 1895/joy a duty.htm

Election
... But another says, "No; I don't want to be holy; I don't want to give up my lusts
and my vices." Why should you grumble, then, that God has not elected you to it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/election.htm

The victory of Faith
... got the money, and repent at your leisure." So saith the world; but you say, "I
cannot do the thing." "Well," says the world, "then groan and grumble: a good ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the victory of faith.htm

Home and the Home-Maker.
... "Home"The father's kingdom, the mother's world, and the child's paradise.
"Home"The place where we grumble the most and are treated the best. ...
/.../questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/x home and the home-maker.htm

Self-Inspection.
... courtiers that one of his officers, Nicanor by name, was always speaking evil of
him, that wherever Nicanor was, there he did nothing but grumble against the ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xlviii self-inspection.htm

Moses Striking the Rock.
... God sent them manna, which they gathered every day except the Sabbath; but with
all God's care and kindness the Israelites continued to grumble whenever any ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/moses striking the rock.htm

Jesus at the Well. A Word to Preachers.
... Why grumble at the few who have come, perhaps a long way? Let us feed these with
the choicest of the wheat. It may be an historic time for anything you know. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xxxii jesus at the well.htm

Three Tests of Love
... Brother, sister, how does your love stand the test? Love will not grumble;
it will not complain; it will not shrink from service. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fifty-three three tests of.htm

Which is Chaste Love; and How in Some Creatures Such Sensible ...
... And peradventure thou mayest be stirred for to love God for them, and that shalt
thou feel by this: if thou grumble overmuch when they be away. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the fiftieth chapter.htm

Thesaurus
Grumble (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Grumble (13 Occurrences). ... (See NAS). 1 Corinthians 10:10
Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. ...
/g/grumble.htm - 10k

Grumbled (13 Occurrences)
... stumble? (See NAS). 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither grumble, as some of them
also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. (WEB). Exodus ...
/g/grumbled.htm - 9k

Grudge (11 Occurrences)
... gruj (naTar; stenazo, goggusmos): "Grudge" (perhaps a mimetic word, compare Greek
gru) is "to grumble" or "murmur" at any person or thing, to entertain an ...
/g/grudge.htm - 13k

Grudgingly (2 Occurrences)

/g/grudgingly.htm - 7k

Destroyer (23 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Destroyer (23 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither
grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. ...
/d/destroyer.htm - 16k

Murmur (23 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To utter complaints in a low, half-articulated voice; to feel or express
dissatisfaction or discontent; to grumble; -- often with at or against. ...
/m/murmur.htm - 15k

Mutter (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed;
esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl ...
/m/mutter.htm - 9k

Perished (76 Occurrences)
... serpents. (WEB ASV DBY). 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither grumble, as some of them
also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. (WEB ASV DBY). ...
/p/perished.htm - 29k

Content (30 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Contained within limits; hence, having the desires limited by that which
one has; not disposed to repine or grumble; satisfied; contented; at rest. ...
/c/content.htm - 17k

Croak (1 Occurrence)
... dismal sound. 2. (vi) To complain; especially, to grumble; to forebode evil;
to utter complaints or forebodings habitually. 3. (vt ...
/c/croak.htm - 7k

Resources
What does the Bible say about complaining? | GotQuestions.org

Who/what is Marah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Aaron in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Grumble: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Grumble (13 Occurrences)

Matthew 20:11
So when they had received it, they grumbled against the employer, saying,
(Root in WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 15:2
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them." The Good News According to John
(See NAS)

Luke 19:7
When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner."
(See NAS)

John 6:41
The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down out of heaven."
(See NIV)

John 6:43
Therefore Jesus answered them, "Don't murmur among yourselves.
(See NAS)

1 Corinthians 10:10
Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

James 5:9
Don't grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won't be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Exodus 16:7
and in the morning, then you shall see the glory of Yahweh; because he hears your murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you murmur against us?"
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 16:8
Moses said, "Now Yahweh shall give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you; because Yahweh hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against Yahweh."
(See NAS)

Numbers 14:27
"How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
(See NIV)

Numbers 14:36
The men, whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up an evil report against the land,
(See NAS NIV)

Numbers 16:11
Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against Yahweh: and Aaron, what is he that you murmur against him?"
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 29:24
They also who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will receive instruction."
(WEB)

Subtopics

Grumble

Related Terms

Grumble (13 Occurrences)

Year's (8 Occurrences)

Grumblers (1 Occurrence)

Rebuked (39 Occurrences)

Reproached (27 Occurrences)

Employer (2 Occurrences)

Destroyer (23 Occurrences)

Denarii (7 Occurrences)

Perished (76 Occurrences)

Sold (92 Occurrences)

Scolding (1 Occurrence)

Perfume (202 Occurrences)

Wages (52 Occurrences)

Perish (186 Occurrences)

Killed (352 Occurrences)

Saying (2162 Occurrences)

Poor (276 Occurrences)

Harshly (20 Occurrences)

Hundred (526 Occurrences)

Angel (209 Occurrences)

Grudgingly
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