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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נָגַןH5059
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 Itplay2×1 Samuel 16:16, Psalms 33:3
a harpist1×2 Kings 3:15
and play1×1 Samuel 16:23
he is to play it1×1 Samuel 16:16
how to play [the harp]1×1 Samuel 16:18
melody1×Isaiah 23:16
played1×2 Kings 3:15
played [the harp]1×1 Samuel 18:10
plays an instrument1×Ezekiel 33:32
the harpist1×2 Kings 3:15
the musicians1×Psalms 68:25
was playing the harp1×1 Samuel 19:9
we will play songs1×Isaiah 38:20
who plays1×1 Samuel 16:17
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 16:16מְנַגֵּ֣ןtoplayVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1 Samuel 16:16וְנִגֵּ֥ןtohe is to play itConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 16:17לְנַגֵּ֔ןtowho playsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1 Samuel 16:18נַ֠גֵּןtohow to play [the harp]Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1 Samuel 16:23וְנִגֵּ֣ןtoand playConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 18:10מְנַגֵּ֥ןtoplayed [the harp]Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1 Samuel 19:9מְנַגֵּ֥ןtowas playing the harpVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular2 Kings 3:15מְנַגֵּ֑ןtoa harpistVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular2 Kings 3:15הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ןtothe harpistArticle | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular2 Kings 3:15כְּנַגֵּ֣ןtoplayedPreposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Samuel 16:16
Aligned rows15
Books represented5
1 Samuel72 Kings3Psalms2Isaiah2Ezekiel1
Source forms
מְנַגֵּ֥ן2xmə·nag·gên1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 19:9
הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן1xham·nag·gên2 Kings 3:15
וְנִגֵּ֥ן1xwə·nig·gên1 Samuel 16:16
וְנִגֵּ֣ן1xwə·nig·gên1 Samuel 16:23
כְּנַגֵּ֣ן1xkə·nag·gên2 Kings 3:15
לְנַגֵּ֔ן1xlə·nag·gên1 Samuel 16:17
מְנַגֵּ֣ן1xmə·nag·gên1 Samuel 16:16
מְנַגֵּ֑ן1xmə·nag·gên2 Kings 3:15
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct4x1 Samuel 16:18, Psalms 33:3, Isaiah 23:16, Ezekiel 33:32
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular4x1 Samuel 16:16, 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 19:9, 2 Kings 3:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2x1 Samuel 16:16, 1 Samuel 16:23
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1x2 Kings 3:15
Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1x2 Kings 3:15
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1x1 Samuel 16:17
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common plural1xIsaiah 38:20
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1xPsalms 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 definitionSource: 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 groups2Aligned forms10
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action9×
Participle active1Sam 16:16 · 1Sam 18:10 · 1Sam 19:9 · 2Kgs 3:154×
Infinitive construct1Sam 16:18 · Ezek 33:32 · Isa 23:16 · Ps 33:34×
ImperfectIsa 38:201×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
Participle activePs 68:261×
Word Origins
נָגַן is a primitive root - no further derivation.