What does נָגַן mean in the Bible?
e. beat a tune with the fingers; expectation.
Hebrew · H5059
נָגַן
Properly, to thrum , i.e. beat a tune with the fingers; expectation. to play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music
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נָגַן H5059
What does נָגַן mean in the Bible?
נָגַן is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to thrum , i.e. beat a tune with the fingers; expectation. to play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music".
Full entry for נָגַן (H5059) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5059?
The BSB source-word alignment has 15 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include play (2), a harpist (1), and play (1), he is to play it (1), how to play [the harp] (1).
Where does נָגַן appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 16:16. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Samuel (7), 2 Kings (3), Isaiah (2), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It play 2× 1 Samuel 16:16, Psalms 33:3
a harpist 1× 2 Kings 3:15
and play 1× 1 Samuel 16:23
he is to play it 1× 1 Samuel 16:16
how to play [the harp] 1× 1 Samuel 16:18
melody 1× Isaiah 23:16
played 1× 2 Kings 3:15
played [the harp] 1× 1 Samuel 18:10
plays an instrument 1× Ezekiel 33:32
the harpist 1× 2 Kings 3:15
the musicians 1× Psalms 68:25
was playing the harp 1× 1 Samuel 19:9
we will play songs 1× Isaiah 38:20
who plays 1× 1 Samuel 16:17
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 16:16 מְנַגֵּ֣ן to play Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 1 Samuel 16:16 וְנִגֵּ֥ן to he is to play it Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 16:17 לְנַגֵּ֔ן to who plays Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 1 Samuel 16:18 נַ֠גֵּן to how to play [the harp] Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 1 Samuel 16:23 וְנִגֵּ֣ן to and play Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 18:10 מְנַגֵּ֥ן to played [the harp] Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 1 Samuel 19:9 מְנַגֵּ֥ן to was playing the harp Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 2 Kings 3:15 מְנַגֵּ֑ן to a harpist Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 2 Kings 3:15 הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן to the harpist Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 2 Kings 3:15 כְּנַגֵּ֣ן to played Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 16:16
Aligned rows 15
Books represented 5
1 Samuel 7 2 Kings 3 Psalms 2 Isaiah 2 Ezekiel 1
Source forms
מְנַגֵּ֥ן 2x mə·nag·gên 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 19:9
הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן 1x ham·nag·gên 2 Kings 3:15
וְנִגֵּ֥ן 1x wə·nig·gên 1 Samuel 16:16
וְנִגֵּ֣ן 1x wə·nig·gên 1 Samuel 16:23
כְּנַגֵּ֣ן 1x kə·nag·gên 2 Kings 3:15
לְנַגֵּ֔ן 1x lə·nag·gên 1 Samuel 16:17
מְנַגֵּ֣ן 1x mə·nag·gên 1 Samuel 16:16
מְנַגֵּ֑ן 1x mə·nag·gên 2 Kings 3:15
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 4x 1 Samuel 16:18, Psalms 33:3, Isaiah 23:16, Ezekiel 33:32
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 4x 1 Samuel 16:16, 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 19:9, 2 Kings 3:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 2x 1 Samuel 16:16, 1 Samuel 16:23
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 1x 2 Kings 3:15
Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 1x 2 Kings 3:15
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 1x 1 Samuel 16:17
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common plural 1x Isaiah 38:20
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 1x Psalms 68:25
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to thrum , i.e. beat a tune with the fingers; expectation. to play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music
Source Gloss
properly, to thrum , i.e. beat a tune with the fingers; expectation. to play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to thrum, i.e. beat a tune with the fingers; expectation. to play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music BDB: touch Usage: player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, ministrel, play(-er, -ing).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 10
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 9×
Participle active 1Sam 16:16 · 1Sam 18:10 · 1Sam 19:9 · 2Kgs 3:15 4×
Infinitive construct 1Sam 16:18 · Ezek 33:32 · Isa 23:16 · Ps 33:3 4×
Imperfect Isa 38:20 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Participle active Ps 68:26 1×
Word Origins
נָגַן is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain