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תְּלוּנָה

𐤕𐤋𐤅𐤍𐤄

tᵉlûwnâh

H8519 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Complaint or expression of dissatisfaction, especially through grumbling or murmuring. The term typically denotes dissatisfaction voiced by a group or individual, often directed against leadership or circumstances rather than as a formal protest. It carries connotations of obstinate or persistent complaining, but does not necessarily denote organized resistance. In context, it often refers to grumbling aimed at YHWH or Moses during Israelite wilderness wanderings, reflecting discontent, frustration, or a lack of trust.

Semantic Range

grumbling, murmuring, voicing dissatisfaction, complaint, persistent or obstinate protest, informal resistance

Root / Etymology

The term derives from the root לון (l-v-n), which primarily means 'to lodge,' 'to spend the night,' and sometimes 'to tarry.' In the Piel/Niphal stems or in certain contexts, the root can take on a nuance of 'to linger,' and by extension, in biblical usage, it can refer to 'remaining' in an emotional posture—namely, obstinacy. תְּלוּנָה is a noun formation from this root, indicating the resulting action or state of grumbling or complaint. The root meaning is 'to lodge, remain overnight,' but this does not directly convey the precise lexical sense of the noun, which reflects the figurative development into 'complaint' or 'dissatisfaction.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Torah, particularly in Exodus and Numbers, תְּלוּנָה denotes the collective or repeated complaints of the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness, especially when grumbling about food, water, or hardships. The term is largely absent outside narrative literature relating to the wilderness period, emphasizing its association with the theme of communal dissatisfaction with divine or human leadership. Unlike the related term תְּלִיָּה, which can mean 'accusation' or 'charge,' תְּלוּנָה focuses on murmuring or grumbling rather than legal complaints. Later English translations often render the word as 'complaining,' 'murmuring,' or 'grumbling,' but such terms sometimes understate the persistent or defiant undertones of the Hebrew. For example, the Septuagint often uses 'γογγυσμός' (goggysmos) to render תְּלוּנָה, conveying a similar sense of discontented muttering or complaint. Over time, the root acquired a more general sense of lodging or spending the night, and the noun became obsolete outside biblical Hebrew. There is no evidence that the term denoted formal protest or organized opposition; rather, it signifies informal and often disparaged complaining within the community.

Translation Consistency

primary "complaint" 8 occurrences

The core sense of תְּלוּנָה is a voiced expression of dissatisfaction—best and most natural captured by the noun 'complaint'. It covers the typical range (grumbling, murmuring, persistent protest) without forcing a specifically verbal sense ('grumble'/'murmur') and reads naturally in both singular and plural contexts.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"grumblings" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or תּלֻנָּה; from לוּן in the sense of obstinacy; a grumbling; murmuring.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

לון (l-w-n) — to lodge, to spend the night, to remain, to tarry

Root לון to lodge, to spend the night, to remain, to tarry
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3210 יָלוֹן and Yalon
H3885 לוּן I will lodge overnight
H4411 מָלוֹן in the lodging-place
H4412 מְלוּנָה like a lodging-hut

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8519-04 תְּלֻנֹּתֵי/כֶ֖ם telunoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your complaints your persistent grumblings your persistent complaints 4
H8519-02 תְּלוּנֹּת֮ telunot HNcfpc complaints grumblings of complaints of 3
H8519-03 תְּלוּנֹּתָ֛/ם telunotam HNcfpc/Sp3mp their complaints their grumblings their grumblings 1
H8519-01 מַלִּינִ֖ם malinim HVhrmpa are murmuring those lodging complaints those lodging complaints 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8519-04 Exodus 16:7 תְּלֻנֹּתֵי/כֶ֖ם telunoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your complaints your persistent grumblings your persistent complaints
H8519-04 Exodus 16:8 תְּלֻנֹּ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם telunoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your complaints your persistent grumblings your persistent complaints
H8519-01 Exodus 16:8 מַלִּינִ֖ם malinim HVhrmpa are murmuring those lodging complaints those lodging complaints
H8519-04 Exodus 16:8 תְלֻנֹּתֵי/כֶ֖ם telunoteykhem-2 HNcfpc/Sp2mp your complaints your persistent grumblings your persistent complaints
H8519-04 Exodus 16:9 תְּלֻנֹּתֵי/כֶֽם telunoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your grumblings your persistent grumblings your persistent complaints
H8519-02 Exodus 16:12 תְּלוּנֹּת֮ telunot HNcfpc grumblings grumblings of complaints of
H8519-02 Numbers 14:27 תְּלֻנּ֞וֹת telunot HNcfpc complaints grumblings of complaints of
H8519-02 Numbers 17:20 תְּלֻנּוֹת֙ telunot HNcfpc the complaints grumblings of the complaints of
H8519-03 Numbers 17:25 תְּלוּנֹּתָ֛/ם telunotam HNcfpc/Sp3mp their complaints their grumblings their grumblings
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