Hebrew word · H7279

רָגַן

nirgon

to grumble

To murmur, mutter, complain, grumble. The Niphal participle nirgan in Proverbs means a whisperer or slanderer (Prov 16:28; 18:8; 26:20, 22). The root carries the idea of discontent spoken in low or hidden tones.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to murmur, whisper

1a) (Qal) murmurer (participle)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to murmur

1b2) backbiter (participle)

Also means: nir.gan (נִרְגָּן "whisperer" H5372)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 29:24

Range of meaning

To murmur, mutter, complain, grumble. The Niphal participle nirgan in Proverbs means a whisperer or slanderer (Prov 16:28; 18:8; 26:20, 22). The root carries the idea of discontent spoken in low or hidden tones.

Against the English

'Grumble' or 'murmur' (KJV, ESV) is accurate. NASB's 'those who criticize' brings out the hostile, fault-finding side. NLT's 'complainers' is fair.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 1:27 and Ps 106:25: Israel 'grumbled in their tents' and refused to enter the land. The Septuagint here uses gongyzō, the standard Greek word for the wilderness murmuring (Exod 16; Num 14), which John and Paul later echo (John 6:41; 1 Cor 10:10).

From the study of Proverbs 16:28

Range of meaning

From rāgan, 'to murmur, grumble, mutter' (Deut 1:27, Ps 106:25: Israel 'grumbled in their tents' against the LORD; Isa 29:24, 'those who grumble will accept instruction'). The participle nirgān occurs only in Proverbs (16:28; 18:8; 26:20, 22). It names someone who habitually mutters: a whisperer of complaints, insinuations and damaging remarks about others. HALOT gives 'grumbler, slanderer'. BDB gives 'whisperer, talebearer'.

Against the English

KJV/WEB/ESV 'whisperer', BSB/NIV 'gossip', NASB 'slanderer', YLT 'tale-bearer'. 'Whisperer' keeps the sound of low, behind-the-back talk. 'Gossip' in modern English can mean harmless chat about others, which is weaker than the Hebrew. 'Slanderer' gets the damage but suggests outright lies, whereas a nirgān may work by insinuation and complaint more than by false statements.

How it drifted

Modern 'gossip' has softened: it often means idle or even friendly talk about other people. The Hebrew word comes from grumbling and muttering and always appears in contexts of harm: strife (26:20) and wounding words that 'go down into the inner parts' (18:8; 26:22).

Used elsewhere in the period

Prov 18:8 = 26:22: 'The words of a nirgān are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner rooms of the belly.' People enjoy the whisperer's words, and they lodge deep. Proverbs has a separate word for the talebearer who carries secrets (rākîl, Lev 19:16; Prov 11:13; 20:19), so nirgān adds the note of muttering complaint.

From the study of Proverbs 18:8

Range of meaning

A form of the root rgn, "to murmur, grumble, mutter", meaning a habitual mutterer or whisperer. Concretely, it is someone who passes along damaging remarks about others in low, private talk: a talebearer, a slanderer, a sower of discord. It does not refer to an idle chatterer.

Against the English

KJV has "talebearer" (and "whisperer" at 16:28). ESV and NASB have "whisperer". BSB, NIV and WEB have "gossip". "Whisperer" keeps the hushed, behind-the-back sound of the root. "Gossip" is natural English but can sound lighter than the Hebrew.

How it drifted

Modern English "gossip" covers everything from harmless chatter about neighbours to real character damage. Many people hear it as a small social vice. In Proverbs the nirgān is a destructive figure.

Used elsewhere in the period

The verb rgn describes Israel "grumbling in your tents" (Deut 1:27; Ps 106:25), meaning muttered complaint in private. The noun appears only in Proverbs. At 16:28 a nirgān "separates close friends". At 26:20 "where there is no nirgān, quarrelling dies down". The same idea appears elsewhere as rākîl, the slanderer who "goes about" (Lev 19:16; Prov 11:13; 20:19).

Where it appears

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 1:27 וַתֵּרָגְנ֤וּ and you murmured

    You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated.

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 106:25 וַיֵּרָגְנ֥וּ and they murmured

    They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.

Proverbs · 4

  1. Proverbs 16:28 וְ֝נִרְגָּ֗ן and a slanderer

    A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.

    Here: 'And a whisperer.' The root means to murmur or grumble (Israel 'grumbled in their tents', Deut 1:27; Ps 106:25). This form names a person who habitually mutters complaints and insinuations about others behind their backs. He is not just chatty. He is a malicious under-the-breath talker.

  2. Proverbs 18:8 נִ֭רְגָּן a slanderer

    The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

    Here: A person who spreads low, private, damaging talk about others. The root means to murmur or grumble under one's breath. In Proverbs this person breaks up friendships (16:28) and keeps quarrels going (26:20).

  3. Proverbs 26:20 נִ֝רְגָּ֗ן a slanderer

    Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

    Here: A person, not an activity: the one who goes around murmuring things about others behind their backs. He is the fuel in the comparison. Take him out and the quarrel has nothing to burn.

  4. Proverbs 26:22 נִ֭רְגָּן a slanderer

    The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 29:24 וְרוֹגְנִ֖ים and murmurers

    Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.”

    Here: People who complain under their breath. It echoes Israel muttering in their tents in the wilderness (Deut 1:27; Ps 106:25). It describes discontent spoken against God and his messenger.

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