The Greek verb diagogguzō is an intensified form of gogguzō (grumble), meaning to murmur or grumble extensively — complaining that spreads throughout a crowd. It appears in Luke 15:2 and 19:7, where the Pharisees and crowd grumbled about Jesus associating with sinners and entering Zacchaeus's house.
The diagogguzō of the Pharisees is one of the most tragic sounds in the Gospels. Jesus was celebrating — a lost son found, a lost sheep returned, a tax collector receiving salvation — and the religious leaders were grumbling throughout the crowd. Their murmuring echoes the wilderness generation who grumbled against God despite His miracles (Exodus 16:7-8). The Pharisees had the Law but missed the God of grace standing before them. Paul's command in Philippians 4:11 to 'do everything without grumbling' stands in direct contrast. The gospel produces gratitude; religion without grace produces the diagogguzō of those who think they deserve better than the sinner beside them.