Murmuring

Bible Questions Answered:

“What is murmuring? My teachers said they were murmers...”

Charlotte/ Madisonville, Tennessee (U.S.A.)

Bible Answer:

Bible Texts:

Murmur: A mumbled or muttered complaint.

New World Dictionary

Exodus 16:7 KJV

And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of The Lord; for that He heareth your murmurings* against The Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?

Murmurings-Hebrew: Tluwnah (Tel-oo-naw): A sense of obstinacy; a grumbling:-murmuring.

Exodus 16:8 KJV

And Moses said, This shall be, when The Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that The Lord heareth your murmurings* which ye murmur against Him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against The Lord.

Exodus 16:9 KJV

And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before The Lord: for He hath heard your murmurings*.

Exodus 16:12 KJV

I have heard the murmurings* of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am The Lord your God.

Numbers 14:1-3 KJV (A serous case of ingratitude.)

1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

2 And all the children of Israel murmured* against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

3 And wherefore hath The Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Murmur-Hebrew: Luwn (Loon): To be obstinate (to complain): abide (all night), continue, dwell, endure, grudge, murmur.

Numbers 14:27 KJV

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against Me? I have heard the murmurings* of the children of Israel, which they murmur against Me.

Numbers 17:5 KJV

And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

Numbers 17:10 KJV

And The Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from Me, that they die not.

From these few examples we can see that...

1. The Lord heard all the complaints (grumblings) of the Hebrews, and …
   Exodus 16:7 KJV
   ...The Lord; for that He heareth your murmurings...
2. Their Murmurings were against Him.
   Exodus 16:8 KJV The Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against Him:
   your murmurings are not against us, but against The Lord.
3. The Lord called the people that murmured (against Him), an evil congregation!
   Numbers 17:5 KJV
   How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against Me? I have heard the murmurings* of the children of Israel, which they murmur against Me.
4. The reward of the murmur- is destruction.
   I Corinthians 10:10 KJV
   Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

The Apostle Paul told believers...

Philippians 2:14,15 KJV

14 Do all things without murmurings* and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Murmurings-Greek: Goggusmos (Gong-goos-mos): A grumbling: grudging, murmuring.

The opposite of complaining is contentment, and the giving of thanks.

Philippians 4:11 KJV

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I Timothy 6:7,8 KJV

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV

16 These six things doth The Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Dear friend, lets be a a part of praise and worship and not a part of the problem, that of murmuring.

Psalm 133:1-3 KJV

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there The Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

• Salvation Prayer