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Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary: The New Testament Greek word: γογγυζω

Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/DictionaryG/g/g-o-g-g-u-z-om.html

γογγυζω

Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary

γογγυζω

The curious verb γογγυζω (gogguzo) is commonly thought to mean to mutter, mumble or grumble, but here at Abarim Publications we translate it with: to wildly debate, and a wild debate is a debate without central purpose between uninformed meddlers. This verb is used 8 times in the New Testament; see full concordance.

Our verb is of unclear origin and commentators generally assume it's onomatopoetic (named after sound, like woof woof). We find this unlikely, since the sound this word was supposedly named after is that of speaking, which is the sound itself (suggesting that gogg-gogg-gogg was the Greek equivalent of our English bla-bla-bla, and note that a double gg was pronounced as "ng" or "nk").

The similar adjective γογγυλος (goggulos) means round; hence the noun γογγυλις (goggulis), meaning turnip and perhaps γογγρος (goggros), a kind of large eel.

Here at Abarim Publications we surmise that all these words aren't onomatopoetic but based on an ancient and widely dispersed idea called גג (gog) in Hebrew (hence the names Gog and Magog): namely a group discussion that mimics a senatorial debate in its lofty aim to settle disputes and design courses of action for a nation at large to take, but which lacks a central purpose and whose participants are short any discipline or expertise.

If a society is a building, and its proverbial roof is where the governing elders collect, exchange and discuss information concerning matters at hand, then Gog represents a very noisy crowd upon a very large roof, upheld by dangerously thin pillars, where every Tom, Dick and Harry can go to discuss anything at all, at full blast and without really being heard or making any difference. Here at Abarim Publications we further surmise that the English verb to goggle (to eye wildly) is the visual companion of our verb γογγυζω (gogguzo), to debate wildly, and was introduced to the English language basin by resident Jews.

From our verb γογγυζω (gogguzo) come:

  • The noun γογγυσμος (goggusmos), meaning a wild debate, a debate between uninformed buffoons and without a central purpose or any focused effect. This noun is used 4 times; see full concordance.
  • The noun γογγυστης (goggustes), meaning a wild debater, a debater without centralizing guidance or expertise in the issue at hand (Jude 1:16 only).
  • Together with the prefix δια (dia), meaning through or throughout: the verb διαγογγυζω (diagogguzo), meaning to keep on wild debating, to engage in a wild debate and keep it up for a long time (Luke 15:2 and 19:7 only).