תְּלֻנָּה (te.lu.nah)
te.lu.nah
murmuring
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun telunnah describes a specific kind of complaint: murmuring or grumbling against authority. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears only five times, and every instance occurs in the wilderness narratives of Exodus and Numbers. It captures the low, resentful muttering of the Israelites as they faced scarcity and danger, rather than open rebellion or shouting.
This word carries a heavy theological weight because it is directed specifically at God and His appointed leader, Moses. The sources highlight that telunnah represents a failure of trust. Instead of remembering God’s past deliverance, the people focused on their immediate discomfort, turning their anxiety into a bitter critique of divine provision.
Translators often render telunnah as "murmuring" or "complaining," but the sense is more passive-aggressive than simple disagreement. It implies a heart that refuses to accept its circumstances with gratitude. The repeated use of this term in Numbers underscores how persistent doubt can erode community faith over time.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word telunnah describes a quiet, resentful muttering against God or His leaders. It is not loud rebellion, but a passive-aggressive complaint born from fear and scarcity. In the wilderness, the Israelites focused on their hunger rather than remembering how God had delivered them. This murmur reflects a heart that struggles to trust divine provision when circumstances feel hard.
For your faith, this word offers a gentle warning about where our attention lies. When anxiety rises, it is easy to mutter against the situation or those leading us. Moses clarified that such murmuring is ultimately directed at God Himself. Recognizing this helps us pause before speaking bitterness, choosing instead to remember past faithfulness.
God hears even these quiet complaints. In Exodus 16, He responds not with anger but with bread and meat. This shows that His patience meets our doubts with provision. You are invited to bring your fears to Him openly, trusting that He cares for your needs even in difficult seasons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- grumblings/ your4×
- [the] grumblings of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּלוּנֹּת֮1×
- תְּלֻנֹּתֵי/כֶֽם\׃1×
- תְּלֻנֹּתֵי/כֶ֖ם1×
- תְּלֻנֹּ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם1×
- תְּלֻנּ֞וֹת1×
- תְלֻנֹּתֵי/כֶ֖ם1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 16:8
Moses said, “Now Yahweh will give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you, because Yahweh hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against Yahweh.”
This verse clarifies that murmuring against human leaders is actually a complaint directed against God Himself.
-
Numbers 14:27
“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel, which they complain against me.
Here the term highlights how persistent doubt within a community can erode trust over time, prompting God to question how long He must bear with them.
-
Exodus 16:12
“I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At evening you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God.’”
God acknowledges their murmuring but responds with specific provision, showing that His care remains active despite their lack of faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does telunnah mean in the Bible?
How is telunnah different from open rebellion?
Why does God respond to murmuring with provision?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 2 books)
Exodus 4 verses
In the morning, you shall see Yahweh’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you…
Exodus 16:8Moses said, “Now Yahweh will give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you, because…
Exodus 16:9Moses said to Aaron, “Tell all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come close to Yahweh, for he has heard your…
Exodus 16:12“I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At evening you shall eat meat, and in…