Murmur, Murmuring
Murmur, Murmuring
MURMUR, MURMURING (Lat. murmur, a reduplication of an imitative syllable mur; cf. Gr. ).A low continuous sound, as of a stream or of bees, hence a whispering, something said in a low muttering voice. The verb represents:
(1) , to murmur, say in a low tone; according to Pollux and Phavorinus, it was used of the cooing of doves, like and of the more elegant Greek writers. It is found in the Gospels with the accusative of the thing said (Joh 7:32), with (Joh 6:41; Joh 6:61; Joh 7:32), (Mat 20:11), (Luk 5:30), and (Joh 6:43). (2) only in Lk. (Luk 15:2; Luk 19:7), where seems to give the idea of a general pervasive murmuring through the whole assembly, or perhaps it means alternative murmuring among one another, certandi significationem addit (Hermann). (3) is used in one passage (Mar 14:5) of the disciples murmuring against Mary; it implies that they were moved with indignation. The noun occurs only once in the Gospels (Joh 7:12); it as well as and are frequently used in LXX Septuagint of Israel in the wilderness.
The word murmur appears in itself to have a neutral meaning, the context deciding whether it expresses favour, doubt, or hostility; hence in several cases muttering or whispering might be a better rendering. For its use in a friendly sense see Joh 7:31-32, where the murmuring was that of persons who believed on Jesus, and who said, When the Christ shall come, will he do more signs than those which this man hath done?a dangerous omen to the Pharisees. The noun , as used in Joh 7:12, includes both favour and hostility: There was much murnmring among the multitudes concerning him; some said, He is a good man; others said, Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray. It implies a discussion low and whispered, not free and open; it was hardly safe to speak out plainly, for they feared the Jews (cf. Joh 7:40-41) The development of such differences of opinion is recorded in Joh 6:52 they strove () one with another; Joh 7:43 there arose a division () in the multitude because of him; cf. also Joh 9:16, Joh 10:19, Joh 11:45-46. The sense of doubt and dissatisfaction predominates in Joh 6:41; Joh 6:43, as also in Joh 6:61 his disciples murmured at this, namely, at the hard saying. There is some uncertainty as to what precisely is here meant: whether the new teaching of life through death (Westcott); the paradoxical nature of the words just spoken by Jesus, the need of eating His flesh and drinking His blood (Godet); His claim to have come down from heaven (Lampe and others); the apparent pride with which He connected the salvation of the world with His own Person (Tholuck, Hengstenberg); or the bloody death of the Messiah (de Wette, Meyer). Dissatisfaction is seen highly intensified in Luk 5:30; Luk 15:2, where the Pharisees and the scribes murmured because He ate with publicans and sinners. Compare also Luk 19:7, where all, apparently even the Twelve, shared in it with a sense of outrage done to propriety; Edersheim calls it a murmur of disappointment and anger; but perhaps Bengel is more correct, ex haesitatione potius quod ad majoreni partem attinet quam cum indignatione. Hostile murmuring is found in the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard (Mat 20:11), and in the story of the Anointing in the house of Simon the leper (Mar 14:5).
W. H. Dundas.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Murmur, Murmuring
“to mutter, murmur, grumble, say anything in a low tone” (Eng., “gong”), an onomatopoeic word, representing the significance by the sound of the word, as in the word “murmur” itself, is used of the laborers in the parable of the householder, Mat 20:11; of the scribes and Pharisees, against Christ, Luk 5:30; of Jews, Joh 6:41, Joh 6:43; of the disciples, Joh 6:61; of the people, Joh 7:32 (of debating secretly); of the Israelites, 1Co 10:10 (twice), where it is also used in a warning to believers. In the papyri it is used of the “murmuring” of a gang of workmen; also in a remark interpose, while the Emperor (late 2nd cent. A.D.) was interviewing a rebel, that the Romans were then “murmuring” (Moulton and Milligan, Vocab.).
lit., “to murmur through” (dia, i.e., “through a whole crowd,” or “among themselves”), is always used of indignant complaining, Luk 15:2; Luk 19:7.
is rendered “murmured against” in Mar 14:5; it expresses indignant displeasure: see CHARGE, C, No. 4.
Note: For stenazo, Jam 5:9, RV, “murmur,” see GRIEVE, No. 3.
“a murmuring, muttering” (akin to A, No. 1), is used (a) in the sense of secret debate among people, Joh 7:12 (as with the verb in Joh 7:32); (b) of displeasure or complaining (more privately than in public), said of Grecian Jewish converts against Hebrews, Act 6:1; in general admonitions, Phi 2:14; 1Pe 4:9, RV, “murmuring” (AV, “grudging”).