Psalms 106:25
But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
בְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם
in their tents
H168
בְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם
in their tents
Strong's:
H168
Word #:
2 of 6
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 6
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ
and hearkened
H8085
שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ
and hearkened
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
4 of 6
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Cross References
Hebrews 3:15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.Numbers 14:22Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
Historical Context
Numbers 14:1-4 records that all the congregation wept, murmured against Moses and Aaron, and said it would have been better to die in Egypt or the wilderness than fall in Canaan. They even proposed choosing a new leader to return to Egypt. This wholesale rejection of God's purposes demonstrated how quickly fear and unbelief can spread through a community. Only the minority (Joshua, Caleb, Moses, Aaron, and faithful remnant) maintained faith.
Questions for Reflection
- How does private grumbling contribute to corporate unbelief and rebellion?
- What is the relationship between hearing God's word and obeying it?
- How can church leaders address murmuring before it spreads and causes wider rebellion?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse continues describing Israel's unbelief at Kadesh. 'Murmured in their tents' shows they privately complained and spread discontent among families. 'Murmured' (ragan, רָגַן) means to grumble or complain in a low, muttering way—indicating conspiracy and undermining leadership. 'Hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD' shows they refused to obey God's command to enter the land. They heard but didn't obey—a common biblical pattern where hearing without obeying constitutes disobedience (James 1:22-25). The tent grumbling shows how private unbelief metastasizes into corporate rebellion, infecting the whole community with fear and doubt.