5048. neged
Lexical Summary
neged: Before, in front of, opposite, against, in the presence of

Original Word: נֶגֶד
Part of Speech: substantive; adverb; preposition; adverb; preposition
Transliteration: neged
Pronunciation: NEH-ged
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-ghed)
KJV: about, (over) against, X aloof, X far (off), X from, over, presence, X other side, sight, X to view
NASB: before, opposite, front, presence, against, straight ahead, sight
Word Origin: [from H5046 (נָגַד - told)]

1. a front, i.e. part opposite
2. specifically a counterpart, or mate
3. usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
about, over against, aloof, far off, from, over, presence, other side,

From nagad; a front, i.e. Part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before -- about, (over) against, X aloof, X far (off), X from, over, presence, X other side, sight, X to view.

see HEBREW nagad

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from nagad
Definition
in front of, in sight of, opposite to
NASB Translation
against (3), aloof* (3), away (1), before (60), broad (1), demoralized* (1), directly (1), distance* (3), front (15), opposite (16), opposite* (5), other side (1), presence (13), resist* (1), risked* (1), sight (2), sight* (2), straight ahead (3), straight before (1), suitable (2), under (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
נֶ֫גֶד151 substantive what is conspicuous or in front, always as

adverb or

preposition in front of, in sight of, opposite to, נֶ֑גֶד, construct נֶגֶד, suffix נֶגְדִּי Psalm 38:11 +, נֶגְדְּךָ Psalm 38:10 +, etc.; with ה locative נֶ֫גְדָּה Psalm 116:14; Psalm 116:18; —

1 as adverb accusative in front of,

a. locally (rather stronger and distincter than לִפְנֵי), (a) Genesis 31:32 נֶגֶד אַחֵינוּ הַכֶּרנָֿא in front of our brethren own it, now, Genesis 31:37; Genesis 47:15 ולמה נמות נגדך why should we die in thy sight ? Exodus 19:2 Israel encamped נגד ההר in front of the mountain, Exodus 34:10 נגד כלעֿמך אעשׂה נִפְלָאֹת, before, in sight of, all thy people (compare Psalm 78:12), Joshua 3:16 the people passed over נגד ירחו in front of J., 1 Kings 20:27, etc.; Nehemiah 3:23 in front of their house, Nehemiah 3:29; נגד (כלׅ ישׂראל Deuteronomy 31:11; Joshua 8:35 = 1 Samuel 15:30; 2 Samuel 12:12 +; 1 Kings 21:13 set Naboth נֶגֶד הָעָם; ׳נגד י 1 Samuel 12:3; 1 Samuel 16:6 מְשִׁיחוֺ ׳אַךְ נֶגֶד י, so נֶגְדִּי Psalm 89:37, נֶגְדּוֺ Psalm 18:13; נגד השׁמשׁ Numbers 25:4; 2 Samuel 12:12; Psalm 22:26 יראיו ׳נ, Psalm 52:11 (so in poetry נֶגְדָּה לְ Psalm 116:14; Psalm 116:18); hostilely, Job 10:17; with collateral idea of to the mortification of, Psalm 23:5; Psalm 31:20, compare Joel 1:16; with collateral idea of being open or known to, Proverbs 15:11 ׳שׁאול ואבדון נגד י, Job 26:6; Psalm 38:10 נגדך כלתֿאותי "" (ממך לא נסתרהׅ, Psalm 69:20 ("" יָדַעְתָּ), Psalm 119:168; Isaiah 59:12; so נֶגֶד מָּנַי הָיוּ Hosea 7:2. (b) with reflexive suffix, and verb of motion, to go in front of oneself, i.e. straightforward, Joshua 6:5 ועלו העם אישׁ נגדו each straightforward, Joshua 6:20; Amos 4:3; Jeremiah 31:29; Nehemiah 12:37, compare Proverbs 4:25.

b. mentally, = vividly present to, Psalm 38:18 ומכאובי נגדי תמיד, Psalm 44:16; Psalm 51:5 וחטאתי נגדי תמיד, Psalm 109:15 ׳י ׳נ (remembered by): nearly = בְּעֵינָיו, כְּאַיִן נֶגְדּוֺ Isaiah 40:17; Psalm 39:6; so ׳וְנ מְּנֵיהֶם נְבוֺנִים Isaiah 5:21. But Exodus 10:10 כי רעה נגד פניכם before your face is = in your view, or purpose (compare לא אשׁית לְנֶגֶד עֵינַי דברבֿליעל Psalm 101:3).

2 With prepositions:

a. כְּנֶגֶד according to what is in front of = corresponding to, Genesis 2:18 I will make him עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֺ a help corresponding to him i.e. equal and adequate to himself, Genesis 2:20 among the animals there was no עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֺ. **Note that in Late Hebrew מכנגד = in front of, Ber 4:5; 9:5; Ab 2:10, מכנגד פני Git 7:7 and elsewhere.

b. לְנֶגֶד in front of, before, Genesis 33:12 וְֵ˜אלְכָה לְנֶנְדֶּ֑ךָ, Numbers 22:32; 2 Kings 1:13 fell on his knees לנגד אליהו, Isaiah 1:7 your ground לנגדכם זרים אֹכלים אותהּ; with עָמַד Joshua 5:13; Daniel 8:15; Daniel 10:16, in a hostile sense Daniel 10:13, compare Proverbs 21:30; in the sight or presence of, Habakkuk 1:3 וְשֹׁד וְחָמָס לְנֶגְדִּי, Psalm 39:2 בעוד רשׁע לנגדי, Psalm 50:8 ועולֹתיך לנגדי תמיד, Nehemiah 3:37; opposite to (probably of opposite choirs), Nehemiah 12:9,24; = parallel to, 1 Chronicles 5:11; = over, for, a business (peculiar) Nehemiah 11:22; figurative of what is visible morally, Psalm 18:23 כי כל משׁפטיו לנגדי ("" לֹא אָסִיר מֶנִּי), with to set or place Psalm 16:8; Psalm 54:5 לא שׂמו אלהים לנגדם (compare Psalm 86:14,), Psalm 90:8; often in the phrase לְנֶגֶד עֵינֵי ֗֗֗ , both literal, as Job 4:16 תְּמוּנָה עֵינָ֑י ׳לנ, Psalm 5:6 עיניך ׳לא יתיצבו הוללים לנ (compare Psalm 101:7); and in a moral sense, Psalm 18:25 עיניו ׳כְּבֹר ידי לנ, Psalm 26:3 עיני ׳כי חסדך לנ i.e. is ever present to my mind, Psalm 36:2 עיניו ׳אין פחד אלהים לנ i.e. he has no eye to discern God's awe-inspiring judgments (compare Psalm 10:5); with לא אשׁית i.e. have in view, purpose ("" שׂנאתי) Psalm 101:3.

c. מִנֶּגֶד (a)

adverb off (מִן

1c) the front, in front, opposite, ex adverso, Genesis 21:16 ותשׁב להּ מנגד sat her down opposite, Genesis 21:16, 2 Kings 2:7; Deuteronomy 28:66 והיו חייך תלואים לך מנגד shall be hung up for thee in front (i.e. suspended, as by a thread, in front of thee); Judges 9:17 וישׁלך נפשׁו מנגד and flung away his life in front or straight away (i.e. hazarded it); = some way off, from or at a distance, Numbers 2:2; Deuteronomy 32:52 כי מִנֶּגֶד תראה את הארץ, 2 Kings 2:15 ׳וַיִּרְאֻהוּ מנ at a distance, 2 Kings 3:22; 2 Kings 4:25; aloof, 2 Samuel 18:13 ואתה תתיצב מנגד, Obadiah 11 (b) as a

preposition (a) from the front of, away from, Songs 6:5 הָסֵבִּי עֵינַיִךְ מִנֶּגְדִּי, 1 Samuel 26:20 אליֿפֹל ׳פני י ׳דמי ארצה מנ; מנגד עיני from before the eyes of, with verbs of removing Isaiah 1:16, cutting off Psalm 31:23; Jonah 2:5, hiding Amos 9:3; Jeremiah 16:17. (β) opposite to, Nehemiah 3:19,25,27; at a distance from, Psalm 10:5 מרום משׁפטיך מנגדו, Psalm 38:12 מנגד נגעי יעמדו. (γ) מִנֶּגֶד לְ from before, Proverbs 14:7, in front of Judges 20:34.

d. עַד נֶגֶד as far as the front of, Nehemiah 3:16,26.

Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Core Idea

נֶגֶד functions as a relational and spatial marker that points to something placed “in front of,” “in full view of,” or “in counterpart to” another. Throughout Scripture it frames encounters—between God and humanity, between individuals, between nations, and even between ideas. Whether it introduces divine presence (“before Me”), corporate assembly (“before the congregation”), geographic location (“opposite Gilgal”), or personal correspondence (“a helper suited to him”), it signals intentional orientation and accountability.

Scope of Biblical Usage

Approximately one-hundred-fifty Old Testament verses employ נֶגֶד. They cluster around several key settings:

1. Covenant and Law (Exodus, Deuteronomy)
2. Worship and Prayer (Psalms, Chronicles)
3. Marriage and Family (Genesis)
4. Governance and Judgment (Samuel–Kings, Chronicles)
5. Prophetic Confrontation (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel)
6. Geographical Description (Joshua–Kings)
7. Wisdom and Instruction (Proverbs, Job)

Covenantal Exclusivity

Exodus 20:3 anchors the Decalogue: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” נֶגֶד announces the exclusive claim of Yahweh on His people’s worship. The same orientation resurfaces when Israel is warned not to set idols “before” Him (Deuteronomy 32:16). Every breach of covenant is, at its core, a violation committed “in His face,” underscoring that sin is never private but lived before the holy God.

Marriage and Complementarity

Genesis 2:18 introduces Eve as “a helper suitable for him.” Here נֶגֶד conveys correspondence rather than opposition: the woman is crafted to stand face-to-face with the man, equal in worth, distinct in role. The concept supports a theology of marriage built on mutual partnership under divine oversight.

Worship in the Assembly

David frequently chooses נֶגֶד when describing corporate praise:

Psalm 22:22, “I will declare Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.”

Psalm 26:12, “My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.”

Corporate worship is deliberately public: God’s deeds are proclaimed “in front of” the gathered saints, fostering communal remembrance and witness.

Geographical and Military Strategy

Joshua ‎8:11 situates Israel “directly opposite the city” of Ai. נֶגֶד supplies tactical clarity: armies set themselves in visible array, cities sit across valleys, tribes occupy lands “facing” one another (Judges 18:28; Deuteronomy 11:30). The term preserves historical memory of real places, lending credibility to the biblical narrative and grounding redemptive history in geography.

Judicial and Royal Settings

When Samuel presents the monarchy’s charter, he does so “in the presence of the LORD” and “before the people” (1 Samuel ‎10:25). נֶגֶד binds king and nation to divine oversight. Likewise, Nathan confronts David “before” God (2 Samuel ‎12:7), modeling prophetic courage that stands face-to-face with authority yet ultimately answers to a higher throne.

Prophetic Witness

Isaiah ‎48:16 announces, “From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time it came to be, there I was.” The prophetic word is delivered openly, “not in secret places of a land of darkness” (cf. Isaiah ‎45:19). נֶגֶד reinforces that revelation is accessible and verifiable, leaving the hearer without excuse.

Temple Orientation and Ritual

2 Chronicles ‎3:4 notes the porch of Solomon’s temple that stood “in front of the main hall.” Liturgical vessels and choirs also minister “before the LORD” (1 Chronicles ‎16:4). נֶגֶד underlines sacred order: every priestly action occurs consciously in the view of God, a reality fulfilled in the heavenly ministry of Jesus Christ (Hebrews ‎9).

Wisdom Literature

Proverbs 5:21 warns, “For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and He examines all his paths.” נֶגֶד trains the conscience, inviting an awareness that life unfolds under divine gaze. Ecclesiastes ‎6:5 contrasts a stillborn child who “has not seen the sun or known anything” with one who lives “under the sun,” again employing the notion of being set before the created order.

Typological and Christological Insights

By repeatedly placing events “before the LORD,” נֶגֶד anticipates the incarnation, when the invisible God stands bodily before humanity (John ‎1:14). The face-to-face motif culminates in Revelation ‎22:4, “They will see His face,” where redeemed believers dwell perpetually “in front of” God’s unveiled glory.

Pastoral Application

• Encourage believers to cultivate coram Deo living, recognizing every thought and deed occurs נֶגֶד—the presence of God (Psalm 139:1-4).
• Emphasize public confession of faith: baptism, testimony, and corporate worship are designed to be “before many witnesses” (cf. 1 Timothy ‎6:12).
• Uphold marital complementarity rooted in Genesis ‎2:18, showcasing God’s design for mutual support and harmony.
• Foster transparent leadership; elders and deacons serve “in full view” of the congregation and of God, echoing 1 Peter ‎5:2-4.

Selected Key Occurrences for Study

Genesis 17:18; 24:51

Exodus 10:10; 34:11

Leviticus 8:35

Deuteronomy 1:22; 31:26

Joshua 24:1

1 Samuel 3:1; 12:2

2 Samuel 6:5

1 Kings 8:59

2 Chronicles 29:25

Nehemiah 2:6

Job 1:11

Psalm 95:2; 116:14

Proverbs 14:15

Isaiah 40:16

Jeremiah 42:2

Ezekiel 8:1; 20:12

Zechariah 3:1

Summary

נֶגֶד threads through Scripture as a constant reminder that all creation stands exposed before its Creator, that relationships thrive when lived face-to-face in truth, and that worship, judgment, and redemption are conducted in the full light of God’s presence.

Forms and Transliterations
וְנֶ֣גֶד וְנֶ֥גֶד וְנֶגְדָּ֗ם ונגד ונגדם כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃ כנגדו׃ לְנֶ֖גֶד לְנֶ֣גֶד לְנֶ֥גֶד לְנֶגְדְּכֶם֙ לְנֶגְדִּ֑י לְנֶגְדִּ֔י לְנֶגְדִּ֖י לְנֶגְדִּ֣י לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃ לְנֶגְדִּי֙ לְנֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ לְנֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃ לְנֶגְדָּ֔ם לְנֶגְדָּ֖ם לְנֶגְדָּ֗ם לְנֶגְדָּ֣ם לְנֶגְדָּֽם׃ לְנֶגְדּ֔וֹ לנגד לנגדו לנגדי לנגדי׃ לנגדך לנגדך׃ לנגדכם לנגדם לנגדם׃ מִ֭נֶּגֶד מִנֶּ֑גֶד מִנֶּ֔גֶד מִנֶּ֕גֶד מִנֶּ֖גֶד מִנֶּ֗גֶד מִנֶּ֛גֶד מִנֶּ֜גֶד מִנֶּ֣גֶד מִנֶּ֤גֶד מִנֶּ֥גֶד מִנֶּ֨גֶד מִנֶּ֪גֶד מִנֶּֽגֶד׃ מִנֶּגְדִּ֔י מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ מנגד מנגד׃ מנגדו מנגדי נֶ֖גֶד נֶ֙גֶד֙ נֶ֚גֶד נֶ֛גֶד נֶ֜גֶד נֶ֝֗גֶד נֶ֝גְדְּךָ֗ נֶ֣גֶד נֶ֤גֶד נֶ֥גֶד נֶ֧גֶד נֶ֨גֶד נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ נֶֽגֶד־ נֶגְדְּךָ֥ נֶגְדִּ֑י נֶגְדִּ֖י נֶגְדִּ֗י נֶגְדִּ֣י נֶגְדִּֽי׃ נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ נֶגְדֶּ֔ךָ נֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃ נֶגְדָּ֑הּ נֶגְדָּ֔ם נֶגְדָּ֗ם נֶגְדָה־ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ נֶגְדּ֔וֹ נֶגְדּֽוֹ׃ נֶגְדּוֹ֒ נֶגֶד֩ נגד נגד־ נגדה נגדה־ נגדו נגדו׃ נגדי נגדי׃ נגדך נגדך׃ נגדם kə·neḡ·dōw kenegDo kəneḡdōw lə·ne·ḡeḏ lə·neḡ·dām lə·neḡ·de·ḵā lə·neḡ·də·ḵem lə·neḡ·dî lə·neḡ·dōw lenegDam ləneḡdām lenegDecha lenegdeChem ləneḡdeḵā ləneḡdəḵem lenegDi ləneḡdî lenegDo ləneḡdōw leNeged ləneḡeḏ min·ne·ḡeḏ min·neḡ·dî min·neḡ·dōw minnegDi minneḡdî minnegDo minneḡdōw minNeged minneḡeḏ ne·ḡeḏ ne·ḡeḏ- neḡ·dāh neḡ·ḏāh- neḡ·dām neḡ·de·ḵā neḡ·də·ḵā neḡ·dî neḡ·dōw negdah neḡdāh neḡḏāh- negDam neḡdām negDecha neḡdeḵā neḡdəḵā negDi neḡdî negDo neḡdōw Neged neḡeḏ neḡeḏ- venegDam veNeged wə·ne·ḡeḏ wə·neḡ·dām wəneḡdām wəneḡeḏ
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 2:18
HEB: לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
NAS: him a helper suitable for him.
INT: will make A helper suitable

Genesis 2:20
HEB: מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
NAS: a helper suitable for him.
INT: found A helper suitable

Genesis 21:16
HEB: וַתֵּ֨שֶׁב לָ֜הּ מִנֶּ֗גֶד הַרְחֵק֙ כִּמְטַחֲוֵ֣י
KJV: and sat her down over against [him] a good way off,
INT: went and sat against away shot

Genesis 21:16
HEB: הַיָּ֑לֶד וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב מִנֶּ֔גֶד וַתִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־
INT: the boy down him and lifted her voice

Genesis 31:32
HEB: לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶה֒ נֶ֣גֶד אַחֵ֧ינוּ הַֽכֶּר־
NAS: shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen
KJV: let him not live: before our brethren
INT: shall not live the presence of our kinsmen point

Genesis 31:37
HEB: שִׂ֣ים כֹּ֔ה נֶ֥גֶד אַחַ֖י וְאַחֶ֑יךָ
NAS: [it] here before my kinsmen
INT: appoint here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen

Genesis 33:12
HEB: וְנֵלֵ֑כָה וְאֵלְכָ֖ה לְנֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃
NAS: and go, and I will go before you.
INT: and go will go before

Genesis 47:15
HEB: וְלָ֥מָּה נָמ֖וּת נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֥י אָפֵ֖ס
NAS: should we die in your presence? For [our] money
INT: why die about for is gone

Exodus 10:10
HEB: כִּ֥י רָעָ֖ה נֶ֥גֶד פְּנֵיכֶֽם׃
INT: for evil is in your mind

Exodus 19:2
HEB: שָׁ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נֶ֥גֶד הָהָֽר׃
NAS: camped in front of the mountain.
INT: and there Israel front of the mountain

Exodus 34:10
HEB: כֹּרֵ֣ת בְּרִית֒ נֶ֤גֶד כָּֽל־ עַמְּךָ֙
NAS: a covenant. Before all
INT: to make A covenant Before all your people

Numbers 2:2
HEB: בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִנֶּ֕גֶד סָבִ֥יב לְאֹֽהֶל־
KJV: house: far off about
INT: the sons of Israel off around the tent

Numbers 22:32
HEB: יָרַ֥ט הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃
INT: was contrary your way about

Numbers 25:4
HEB: אוֹתָ֛ם לַיהוָ֖ה נֶ֣גֶד הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְיָשֹׁ֛ב
NAS: and execute them in broad daylight
KJV: and hang them up before the LORD
INT: and execute the LORD broad daylight may turn

Deuteronomy 28:66
HEB: תְּלֻאִ֥ים לְךָ֖ מִנֶּ֑גֶד וּפָֽחַדְתָּ֙ לַ֣יְלָה
KJV: shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear
INT: life shall hang before dread night

Deuteronomy 31:11
HEB: הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את נֶ֥גֶד כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
NAS: this law in front of all Israel
INT: law in front of all Israel

Deuteronomy 32:52
HEB: כִּ֥י מִנֶּ֖גֶד תִּרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־
INT: for about shall see the land

Joshua 3:16
HEB: וְהָעָ֥ם עָבְר֖וּ נֶ֥גֶד יְרִיחֽוֹ׃
NAS: crossed opposite Jericho.
INT: the people crossed opposite Jericho

Joshua 5:13
HEB: אִישׁ֙ עֹמֵ֣ד לְנֶגְדּ֔וֹ וְחַרְבּ֥וֹ שְׁלוּפָ֖ה
NAS: was standing opposite him with his sword
INT: A man was standing opposite his sword drawn

Joshua 6:5
HEB: הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ נֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
NAS: will go up every man straight ahead.
INT: and the people every straight

Joshua 6:20
HEB: הָעִ֙ירָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ נֶגְדּ֔וֹ וַֽיִּלְכְּד֖וּ אֶת־
NAS: every man straight ahead, and they took
INT: the city every straight took the city

Joshua 8:11
HEB: וַֽיִּגְּשׁ֔וּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ נֶ֣גֶד הָעִ֑יר וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙
NAS: and arrived in front of the city,
INT: and drew and arrived front of the city and camped

Joshua 8:33
HEB: וּמִזֶּ֣ה ׀ לָאָר֡וֹן נֶגֶד֩ הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם
NAS: of the ark before the Levitical
INT: he of the ark before priests the Levitical

Joshua 8:35
HEB: קָרָ֜א יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ נֶ֣גֶד כָּל־ קְהַ֤ל
NAS: did not read before all
INT: read Joshua before all the assembly

Judges 9:17
HEB: אֶת־ נַפְשׁוֹ֙ מִנֶּ֔גֶד וַיַּצֵּ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֖ם
KJV: his life far, and delivered
INT: and adventured his life far and delivered the hand

150 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5048
150 Occurrences


kə·neḡ·dōw — 2 Occ.
lə·neḡ·dām — 5 Occ.
lə·neḡ·de·ḵā — 2 Occ.
lə·neḡ·də·ḵem — 1 Occ.
lə·neḡ·dî — 10 Occ.
lə·neḡ·dōw — 1 Occ.
lə·ne·ḡeḏ — 12 Occ.
min·neḡ·dî — 1 Occ.
min·neḡ·dōw — 1 Occ.
min·ne·ḡeḏ — 24 Occ.
neḡ·ḏāh- — 3 Occ.
neḡ·dām — 2 Occ.
neḡ·de·ḵā — 8 Occ.
neḡ·dî — 6 Occ.
neḡ·dōw — 11 Occ.
ne·ḡeḏ — 52 Occ.
wə·neḡ·dām — 1 Occ.
wə·ne·ḡeḏ — 8 Occ.

5047
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