Greek word · G1111

γογγύζω

gongyzō

to murmur

To grumble, mutter, or voice resentful dissatisfaction, whether under the breath or openly. The word imitates its own sound, like English "grumble." It carries a sense of grievance: someone believes they or their standards have been wronged.

Appears 8 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

γογγύζω,

[in LXX chiefly for לוּן ;]

to mutter, murmur: 1 Corinthians 10:10; before κατά, Matthew 20:11; πρός, Luke 5:30; περί, John 6:41, 61; μετ᾽ ἀλλήλων, John 6:43; with accusative, before περί, John 7:32 (cf. δια-γογγύζω).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 5:30

Range of meaning

To grumble, mutter, or voice resentful dissatisfaction, whether under the breath or openly. The word imitates its own sound, like English "grumble." It carries a sense of grievance: someone believes they or their standards have been wronged.

Against the English

"Murmured" (KJV, WEB) preserves the older biblical echo but sounds soft to modern ears. "Complained" (BSB) is clear but flatter and loses the resentful tone. "Grumbled" comes closest in ordinary English.

How it drifted

"Murmur" once carried open discontent in English, especially in Bible language, but today it mostly suggests a gentle or quiet sound.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) this word family is tied to Israel's complaints in the wilderness (Exodus 16-17; Numbers 11 and 14). Exodus 17:3 uses almost the same phrasing as here: the people "were grumbling toward Moses." In the New Testament it describes the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:11) and the crowd in John 6:41. Non-biblical authors such as Epictetus use it for ordinary discontent, so it is not a purely religious term. Luke uses a strengthened form for the same objection in 15:2 and 19:7.

From the study of Matthew 20:11

Range of meaning

To express discontent in muttered, half-public complaint: grumble, murmur, mutter, complain behind someone's back. The sound of the word imitates the low grumbling noise it describes, like English "grumble" or "mutter". It can describe whispered talk in a crowd (John 7:32), but its usual sense is resentful dissatisfaction, often with someone in authority (BDAG: "express oneself in low tones of disapproval").

Against the English

BSB, NIV, ESV and NASB say "grumble", which is accurate. KJV and WEB say "murmur". In 1611 "murmur" plainly meant complaining. Today many readers hear "murmur" as soft, harmless speech ("a murmur of voices") and miss the resentment.

How it drifted

English "murmur" has gradually shifted toward meaning a soft, low sound in general. The KJV sense of muttered complaint now survives mainly in church vocabulary ("murmuring").

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Old Testament (Septuagint): the γογγύζω family is the key vocabulary for Israel's complaints in the wilderness. Examples: Exod 16:7–8, where the people complain about food and Moses says "your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD"; Num 11:1; Num 14:27, 29; Num 17. In those stories, grumbling at a leader is in effect grumbling against God's provision.

New Testament: Luke 5:30 and 15:2, where Pharisees and scribes grumble because Jesus welcomes sinners. John 6:41, 43, 61. Paul's warning in 1 Cor 10:10 ("do not grumble, as some of them did"), which points back to the wilderness stories. Phil 2:14.

Everyday Greek: the word also turns up in non-literary papyri (Moulton–Milligan), so it was ordinary speech and not only a religious term.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 10:10

Range of meaning

The word imitates its sound ("gong-gyz"), like English "mutter" or "grumble". It means low, discontented talk, usually among a group and usually about someone in authority rather than to them. In ordinary Greek it could describe workers muttering about wages (compare Matt 20:11) or a crowd murmuring among themselves (John 7:32). In the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint, it and its compound διαγογγύζω became the fixed words for Israel's wilderness rebellion.

Against the English

"Complain" (BSB) and "grumble" (WEB, most moderns) are fair dictionary equivalents. In modern English, though, they suggest a passing bad mood or venting about small things. "Murmur" (KJV, YLT) keeps the sense of muttering in a group, but today it can sound gentle or even quiet and harmless.

How it drifted

The English words have not changed much. What has been lost is the biblical background: for Paul's hearers the word called up a specific, well-known story pattern. Modern readers hear only a personality trait.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint: Exod 16:7–12 (murmuring about food; Moses says "your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD", 16:8); Exod 17:3; Num 14:2, 27–29 (after the spies, "how long will this evil congregation grumble against me?", ending with the sentence that they would die in the wilderness); Num 16:41 / 17:6 in the Septuagint numbering (the people grumble against Moses and Aaron after Korah's death, and a plague kills 14,700); Ps 106 (105):25 "they grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD". Sirach 10:25 and Wisdom 1:10–11 warn against grumbling. In John 6:41, 43 and 61 the crowd "grumbles" about the bread from heaven, with the same manna background.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 20:11 ἐγόγγυζον they were grumbling

    On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.

    Here: "They were grumbling": discontented, resentful complaining, a word that imitates its own sound ("gong-gyz"). The past continuous form shows the complaint either starting ("began to grumble") or going on ("kept grumbling"). For readers who knew the Greek Old Testament, it called up Israel grumbling in the wilderness.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 5:30 ἐγόγγυζον were grumbling

    But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

    Here: An aggrieved, resentful complaining, and the sound of the word itself suggests it. The verb form pictures something ongoing: they kept on grumbling, or began to and carried on.

John · 4

  1. John 6:41 Ἐγόγγυζον Were grumbling

    At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

    Here: Low, discontented muttering, mostly among themselves (v. 43: 'stop grumbling among yourselves'). The tense pictures an ongoing buzz of complaint that is just starting up. For anyone who knew the Greek Bible, this was the word for Israel grumbling over the manna in the wilderness.

  2. John 6:43 γογγύζετε do grumble

    “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied.

  3. John 6:61 γογγύζουσιν are grumbling

    Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?

    Here: Present tense: 'they are murmuring', going on right then. The word sounds like low, discontented muttering, and in Israel's scriptures it is the word for the wilderness generation complaining against God, especially over the manna. Here Jesus' own followers take up the murmuring that 'the Jews' started in 6:41.

  4. John 7:32 γογγύζοντος murmuring

    When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, they and the chief priests sent officers to arrest Him.

    Here: "Muttering, talking under its breath". The present tense pictures the talk as ongoing. Here it is not complaint. It is hushed talk, since nobody spoke openly about Jesus for fear of the authorities (7:13). The talk itself was largely favourable to him (7:31).

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:10 γογγύζετε ἐγόγγυσαν, do grumble, grumbled,

    And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

    Here: A present-tense command in the plural, addressed to the whole congregation: do not make a habit of resentful muttering. The word sounds like what it describes, and in the Greek Old Testament it is the standard word for Israel's discontent against God and Moses in the wilderness.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.