BABBLER, the tr. of two words in Scripture. One is a phrase found only in Ecclesiastes 10:11, Heb. בַּ֖עַל הַלָּשֹֽׁון, lit. “Lord of the tongues,” but is understood as a charmer or magician. KJV incorrectly translates, “babbler.” It was apparently some sort of common pagan shaman. The other term is the Gr. σπερμολόγος, G5066, literally “picker up of seeds,” or more clearly, “one who maintains himself by picking up bits of scraps.” Apparently this colloquialism was used only in the early Hel. age and is not found in the classical Attic lit. Its only use in the NT is in an offhand remark attributed to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who listened to Paul’s address on the Areopagus (Acts 17:18). It seems to be a direct quote from one of their attacks upon Paul’s preaching.