H7279 H7279
murmur, grumble (rebelliously); backbite, slander
This verb describes discontented murmuring, whether rebellious complaining against authority or malicious whispering about others. Deuteronomy and Psalms use it for Israel's murmuring against God in the wilderness—low, sullen complaints spoken in tents rather than open speech. Isaiah extends it to those who murmur skeptically against prophetic instruction. The Niphal participle in Proverbs means a backbiter or whisperer who spreads malicious gossip.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The word captures both rebellious murmuring against God and malicious gossip about people. Deuteronomy 1:27 and Psalm 106:25 recall Israel's faithless grumbling in their tents during the wilderness wandering—discontented complaining about God's leadership. Isaiah 29:24 describes murmurers who will learn doctrine, suggesting skeptical resistance to teaching. While these uses emphasize rebellious discontent, the root also produces 'backbiter' in wisdom literature—someone who whispers and spreads slander. Whether vertical (against divine authority) or horizontal (against neighbors), the verb denotes low, subversive speech rather than open confrontation. 3×
AR["وَ-الْمُتَذَمِّرُونَ", "وَ-تَذَمَّروا", "وَ-تَذَمَّرْتُمْ"]·ben["এবং-অভিযোগ-করলে", "এবং-তারা-অভিযোগ-করল", "ও-অভিযোগকারীরা"]·DE["[ורוגנים]", "und-du-murmured", "und-sie-grumbled"]·EN["and-grumblers", "and-they-grumbled", "and-you-murmured"]·FR["[ורוגנים]", "et-murmurer", "et-tu-murmura"]·heb["ו-ירגנו", "ו-רוגנים", "ו-תרגנו"]·HI["और-बड़बड़ाए", "और-बुड़बुड़ाने-वाले", "और-वे-बुड़बुड़ाए"]·ID["Dan-kamu-bersungut-sungut", "dan-mereka-bersungut-sungut", "dan-yang-bersungut-sungut"]·IT["[וירגנו]", "[ורוגנים]", "e-tu-murmured"]·jav["Lan-sami-grundelan", "lan-panjenengan-sadaya-pating-grenengan", "lan-tiyang-ingkang-ngedumel"]·KO["그리고-너희가-불평하였다", "그리고-원망하는-자들이", "그리고-원망하였나이다"]·PT["E-murmuraram", "e-murmuradores", "¶ E-murmurastes"]·RU["И-роптали", "И-роптали-вы", "и-ропщущие"]·ES["Y-murmuraron", "Y-murmurasteis", "y-los-murmuradores"]·SW["kumweka", "na-wakanung'unika", "na-wanaolalamika"]·TR["ve-sikayet-edenler", "ve-söylendiler", "ve-söylendiniz"]·urd["اور-بڑبڑائے", "اور-بڑبڑانے-والے", "اور-وہ-بڑبڑانے-لگے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† רָגַן vb. murmur, whisper (NH id.; 𝔗 Ithpe. backbite, slander);— 1. murmur (rebelliously): Qal Pt. pl. רוֹגְנִים Is 29:24 murmurers; Niph. Impf. 3 mpl. וַיֵּרָֽגְנוּ ψ 106:25 and they murmured in their tents, so 2 mpl. וַיֵרָֽגְנוּ Dt 1:27. 2. whisper (maliciously), backbite, slander: Niph. Pt. נִרְגָּן backbiter Pr 16:28; 18:8; 26:20, 22.