Definition and Usage:
The term "murmur" in the Bible refers to the act of grumbling, complaining, or expressing discontent, often in a low, indistinct voice. It is typically used to describe the Israelites' frequent expressions of dissatisfaction during their wilderness journey after the Exodus from Egypt. Murmuring is portrayed as a lack of faith and trust in God's provision and plan.

Biblical Instances:

1. Exodus and the Wilderness Journey:
The Israelites' murmuring is prominently featured in the books of Exodus and Numbers. After their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites frequently complained about their circumstances, despite witnessing God's miraculous interventions. 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. Provision of Manna:
In response to their murmuring about food, God provided manna from heaven. Despite this miraculous provision, the Israelites continued to murmur. Numbers 11:4-6 states: "Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, 'Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!'"

3. Water from the Rock:
Another instance of murmuring occurred when the Israelites lacked water. In Exodus 17:3 , the people quarreled with Moses, saying, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"

4. Rebellion and Consequences:
Murmuring is often associated with rebellion against God and His appointed leaders. In Numbers 14:27 , God expresses His displeasure: "How long will this wicked congregation grumble against Me? I have heard the complaints that the Israelites are making against Me."

Theological Implications:

Murmuring is seen as a symptom of a deeper spiritual issue—unbelief and ingratitude. It reflects a failure to recognize God's sovereignty and goodness. The Israelites' murmuring is consistently met with divine displeasure, and it serves as a warning to future generations. In 1 Corinthians 10:10 , the Apostle Paul admonishes believers: "And do not grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel."

Lessons for Believers:

The biblical accounts of murmuring serve as a cautionary tale for believers to maintain a heart of gratitude and trust in God's provision, even in difficult circumstances. Murmuring is contrasted with faith and obedience, which are pleasing to God. Believers are encouraged to bring their concerns to God in prayer rather than resorting to grumbling, as seen in Philippians 2:14-15 : "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."1. (n.) A low, confused, and indistinct sound, like that of running water.

2. (n.) A complaint half suppressed, or uttered in a low, muttering voice.

3. (v. i.) To make a low continued noise, like the hum of bees, a stream of water, distant waves, or the wind in a forest.

4. (v. i.) To utter complaints in a low, half-articulated voice; to feel or express dissatisfaction or discontent; to grumble; -- often with at or against.

5. (v. t.) To utter or give forth in low or indistinct words or sounds; as, to murmur tales.

MURMUR; MURMURINGS

mur'-mur, mur'-mur-ingz: The Hebrew word (lun) denotes the semi-articulated mutterings of disaffected persons. It is used in connection with the complaints of the Israelites in the desert against Yahweh on the one hand, and against Moses and Aaron on the other hand (Exodus 16:7, 8 Numbers 14:27, 36; Numbers 16:11; Numbers 17:5). In three places (Deuteronomy 1:27 Psalm 106:25 Isaiah 29:24), "murmur" translates a Hebrew word (raghan) which suggests the malicious whispering of slander.

In the New Testament "murmur" renders two different words, namely, gogguzo, and embrimaomai. The latter word suggests indignation and fault-finding (Mark 14:4 the King James Version). The former word (or a compound of it) is generally used in connection with the complainings of the Pharisees and scribes (Matthew 20:11 Luke 5:30; Luke 15:2; Luke 19:7).

T. Lewis

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
... to murmur among themselves. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diagogguzo Phonetic
Spelling: (dee-ag-ong-good'-zo) Short Definition: I murmur greatly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1234.htm - 7k

5167. trugon -- a turtledove
... Word Origin from truzo (to murmur, coo) Definition a turtledove NASB Word
Usage turtledoves (1). turtle-dove. From truzo (to murmur ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5167.htm - 6k

5587. psithurismos -- a whispering
... Souter). [5587 () is "an onomatopoetic word for the sibilant murmur of a
snake charmer (Ecc 10:11)" ( at 2 Cor 12:20).]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5587.htm - 7k

1690. embrimaomai -- to be moved with anger, to admonish sternly
... have indignation on, ie (transitively) to blame, (intransitively) to sigh with chagrin,
(specially) to sternly enjoin -- straitly charge, groan, murmur against ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1690.htm - 7k

4727. stenazo -- to groan (within oneself)
... From stenos; to make (intransitively, be) in straits, ie (by implication) to sigh,
murmur, pray inaudibly -- with grief, groan, grudge, sigh. see GREEK stenos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4727.htm - 7k

7279. ragan -- to murmur, whisper
... 7278, 7279. ragan. 7280 . to murmur, whisper. Transliteration: ragan Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-gan') Short Definition: whisperer. Word Origin a prim. ... murmur. ...
/hebrew/7279.htm - 5k

1993. hamah -- to murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous
... hamah. 1994 . to murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous. Transliteration: hamah Phonetic
Spelling: (haw-maw') Short Definition: roar. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1993.htm - 6k

596. anan -- to complain, murmur
... 595, 596. anan. 597 . to complain, murmur. Transliteration: anan Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-nan') Short Definition: complain. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/596.htm - 5k

1949. hum -- to murmur, roar, defeat in battle
... hum or him. 1950 . to murmur, roar, defeat in battle. Transliteration: hum or
him Phonetic Spelling: (hoom) Short Definition: noisy. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1949.htm - 6k

1995. hamon -- a sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance
... 1994, 1995. hamon. 1996 . a sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance. Transliteration:
hamon Phonetic Spelling: (haw-mone') Short Definition: multitude. ...
/hebrew/1995.htm - 6k

3885b. lun -- to murmur
... 3885a, 3885b. lun. 3886 . to murmur. Transliteration: lun Short Definition:
grumbled. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to murmur ...
/hebrew/3885b.htm - 5k

1901. hagig -- a whisper, musing, murmuring
... meditation, musing. From an unused root akin to hagah; properly, a murmur, ie Complaint
-- meditation, musing. see HEBREW hagah. 1900, 1901. hagig. 1902 . ...
/hebrew/1901.htm - 6k

3885. luwn -- to lodge, pass the night, abide
... abide (all night), continue, dwell, endure, grudge, be left, lie all night, (cause
to) lodge (all night, in, -ing, this night), (make to) murmur, remain, tarry ...
/hebrew/3885.htm - 5k

1897. hagah -- to moan, growl, utter, speak, muse
... A primitive root (compare hagiyg); to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication,
to ponder -- imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, X sore, speak, study ...
/hebrew/1897.htm - 6k

To those who Murmur at the Free Grace of Election and the Just ...
... First Head of Doctrine. Divine Election and Reprobation Article 18 To those who
murmur at the free grace of election and the just severity of? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/various/the canons of dordt/article 18 to those who.htm

That we must Never Murmur, but Bless God Concerning all Things ...
... Third Book. 14. That we must never murmur, but bless God concerning all things
that happen. In Job: "Say some word against the Lord, and die. ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/14 that we must never.htm

Of the Toils which a Deserter from a Monastery must Undergo ...
... Chapter X. Of the toils which a deserter from a monastery must undergo through
covetousness, though he used formerly to murmur at the very slightest tasks. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter x of the toils.htm

Cause to be Heard in Thy Grace, the Tidings of Thy Salvation: for ...
... But the man whose life, is preserved through grace, if he goes away to murmur, at
the loss of his goods, he is thankless for the grace, of Him who had pity on ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn v cause to be.htm

Chastisement
... The first time a child of God receives a blow from his Father's hand he may possibly
turn round upon his own tender Father and murmur at him: "Why ought I to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/chastisement.htm

Marah; Or, the Bitter Waters Sweetened
... Assuredly, the tendency of human nature is to murmur. They murmured, complained,
found fault. A very easy thing, for the very word ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/marah or the bitter waters.htm

Philippians ii. 16-Dec
... in the world, holding forth the word of life, that I may have whereof to glory in
the day of Christ." Observest thou that he is instructing these not to murmur ...
/.../homily viii philippians ii 16-dec.htm

Very Lately it Happened Thus: While the Bounty of Our Most ...
... The murmur is wafted to the tribune, when the person had just left the ranks. ... So
they murmur that a peace so good and long is endangered for them. ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter i very lately it.htm

Answer to Objections: He who Prays Prays not Alone
... bond, and does not protest against God for ordaining what He wills for our discipline,
and does not even in the secrecy of his thoughts murmur inaudibly; for ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter vi answer to objections .htm

Fret not Thyself
... It has a tendency to make us murmur and to be dissatisfied. It is likely
to discourage us; and when we are discouraged, we are likely ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk thirty fret not thyself.htm

Murmur (23 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To utter or give forth in low or indistinct words or sounds; as, to murmur
tales. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MURMUR; MURMURINGS. ...
/m/murmur.htm - 15k

Grumble (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To murmur or mutter with discontent; to make
ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner. ...
/g/grumble.htm - 10k

Murmurings (8 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MURMUR; MURMURINGS. ... In the New Testament "murmur"
renders two different words, namely, gogguzo, and embrimaomai. ...
/m/murmurings.htm - 10k

Grudge (11 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To be covetous or envious; to show discontent; to murmur; to complain; to
repine; to be unwilling or reluctant. 4. (vi) To feel compunction or grief. ...
/g/grudge.htm - 13k

Grumbling (13 Occurrences)
... John 6:43 Therefore Jesus answered them, "Don't murmur among yourselves. (See
NIV). ... Who are we, that you murmur against us?" (See NAS NIV). ...
/g/grumbling.htm - 9k

Murmuring (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Murmur. ... Numbers 14:27 "How long
shall I bear with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? ...
/m/murmuring.htm - 11k

Grumblings (6 Occurrences)
... murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you murmur against us?" (See
NAS). Exodus 16:8 Moses said, "Now Yahweh shall give you ...
/g/grumblings.htm - 8k

Murmured (21 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Murmur. ... 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also
murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/m/murmured.htm - 12k

Destroying (64 Occurrences)
... Ages. (WEY). 1 Corinthians 10:10 neither murmur ye, as also some of them
did murmur, and did perish by the destroyer. (See NIV). 1 ...
/d/destroying.htm - 27k

Meditation (15 Occurrences)
... med-i-ta'-shun (haghuth, sichah): "Meditation" is the translation of haghuth, from
haghah, "to murmur," "to have a deep tone," hence, "to meditate" (Psalm 49:3 ...
/m/meditation.htm - 12k

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