The Hebrew verb lun (also spelled lin) has two related meanings: (1) to lodge, spend the night, or remain overnight, and (2) to murmur, grumble, or complain. The second sense is almost exclusively used for Israel's wilderness complaints against Moses and God (Exodus 15-17; Numbers 14-17).
The grumbling-sense of lun is one of the most theologically significant negative patterns in the Old Testament. Israel's persistent murmuring in the wilderness — about food, water, the promised land, and Moses' leadership — became a paradigm warning for subsequent generations (Psalm 78:17-22; 1 Corinthians 10:10). Paul cites Israel's murmuring as a direct warning to believers: 'Do not grumble, as some of them did — and were killed by the destroying angel.' The word captures how easily humanity doubts God's goodness and provision even in the midst of miraculous deliverance. Jesus' disciples' complaints echo this pattern, reminding believers that faith must actively resist the temptation to grumble against God's sovereignty.