"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").
