Lexical Summary neginah or neginath: Music, song, stringed instrument, or melody. Original Word: נְגִינָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance stringed instrument, music, Neginoth plural, song Or ngiynath (Psa. 'abal:title) {neg-ee-nath'}; from nagan; properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigram -- stringed instrument, musick, Neginoth (plural), song. see HEBREW nagan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nagan Definition music NASB Translation music (1), song (3), stringed instruments (2), taunt (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נְגִינָה] noun feminine music; — absolute נְגִינַת Psalm 61:1 (see below); suffix נְגִינָתִי Psalm 77:7; נְגִינָתָם Job 30:9 2t.; plural נְגִינוֺת Psalm 4:1 6t.; נְגִינָתַי Isaiah 38:20; תָ֑י- Habakkuk 3:19; — 1 music (of stringed instrument) accusative of congnate meaning with verb Isaiah 38:20; as occupation Lamentations 5:14; especially בִּנְגִינוֺת in Psalm-titles; Psalm 4:1; Psalm 6:1; Psalm 54:1; Psalm 55:1; Psalm 67:1; Psalm 76:1; so Habakkuk 3:19; compare עַלנְֿגִינַת Psalm 61:1 (read perhaps plural Ges§ 80f.). 2 song (with string accompare?) Psalm 77:7; subject of mocking song Job 30:9 ("" מִלָּה), Psalm 69:13 (שׁוֺתֵי שֵׁכָר ׳נ), Lamentations 3:14 ("" שְׂחֹק). Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew term נְגִינָה occurs thirteen times in the Old Testament and ranges in sense from reverent music for worship to the derisive songs of scoffers. The breadth of its usage paints a comprehensive picture of Israel’s musical life: exultant praise, personal lament, corporate petition, and even hostile mockery. Whether in the superscriptions of Psalms or the lamentations of exile, נְגִינָה consistently signals the presence—or conspicuous absence—of instrumental song that expresses the heart before God. Liturgical and Devotional Usage Six occurrences appear in Psalm headings (Psalm 4:1; 6:1; 54:1; 55:1; 61:1; 76:1), each directing the psalm “with stringed instruments.” These instructions reveal an established musical tradition within Israel’s corporate worship. Temple singers and Levite musicians (compare 1 Chronicles 15:16, 25:1) would have taken these directives seriously, accompanying prayers of confession (Psalm 6), pleas for protection (Psalm 54), and royal praise (Psalm 76) with lyres, harps, and related instruments. The placement of נְגִינָה at the head of the psalm integrates the instrumentation into the inspired text itself, underscoring the conviction that melody and message belong together in the worship of Yahweh. Psalm 77:6 broadens the picture from formal worship to midnight meditation: “I remembered my song in the night; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered.” Here נְגִינָה is personal and reflective, showing that sacred music is not confined to public assemblies but nourishes individual faith in seasons of distress. Songs of Taunt and Ridicule In stark contrast, Job 30:9 and Psalm 69:12 deploy נְגִינָה as an instrument of scorn. Job laments, “Now I am their taunt song; I have become a byword among them,” while David recalls, “Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.” In both cases, the same word that sanctifies worship can be twisted into derision. This dual capacity highlights the moral responsibility attached to music: melodies can exalt God or belittle His servants. Lamentations 3:14 intensifies the theme: “I have become a laughingstock to all my people; their taunting song all day long.” The fall of Jerusalem turned Judah’s traditional music into a vehicle of humiliation, fulfilling prophetic warnings that disobedience would silence joyous praise (compare Deuteronomy 28:64–67). The Silence of Exile Lamentations 5:14 paints a haunting scene: “The young men have ceased from music.” The absence of נְגִינָה represents more than cultural loss; it signals the withdrawal of covenant blessing. When the people are distant from God, their harps hang silent (compare Psalm 137:2). In this negative space, the longing for restored worship grows. Songs of Deliverance and Eschatological Hope Isaiah 38:20 records Hezekiah’s praise after deliverance from mortal illness: “The LORD is ready to save me; we will play stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the house of the LORD.” Here נְגִינָה becomes a pledge of lifelong gratitude and a reaffirmation of temple-centered worship. Habakkuk 3:19 closes the prophet’s oracle with triumphant assurance: “For the choirmaster. On my stringed instruments.” Against the backdrop of impending judgment, Habakkuk anticipates ultimate victory. The prophetic vision is entrusted to the musician so that hope may be sung until fulfillment arrives. Historical Insights 1. Integration with Temple Worship: The prevalence of stringed accompaniment in Psalm superscriptions confirms that instrumental music was an essential component of Second Temple liturgy, not an optional embellishment. Ministry Implications • Worship Planning: The biblical precedent endorses thoughtful selection of instruments that serve the text and theology of each song. Summary נְגִינָה weaves through Scripture as a thread of melody—sometimes bright, sometimes dissonant—testifying that music is a powerful vehicle for worship, lament, memory, and hope. Its thirteen appearances urge the people of God to tune every string of the heart and every instrument of praise to the faithfulness of the LORD. Forms and Transliterations בִּ֭נְגִינוֹת בִּנְגִינ֗וֹת בִּנְגִינֹ֑ת בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת בִּנְגִינוֹתָֽי׃ בנגינות בנגינותי׃ בנגינת וּ֝נְגִינ֗וֹת וּנְגִנוֹתַ֧י ונגינות ונגנותי מִנְּגִינָתָֽם׃ מנגינתם׃ נְגִינַ֬ת נְגִינָתִ֗י נְגִינָתָ֖ם נְגִינָתָ֣ם נגינת נגינתי נגינתם bin·ḡî·nō·w·ṯāy bin·ḡî·nō·wṯ bin·ḡî·nōṯ bingiNot binḡînōṯ binginoTai binḡînōwṯ binḡînōwṯāy min·nə·ḡî·nā·ṯām minneginaTam minnəḡînāṯām nə·ḡî·nā·ṯām nə·ḡî·nā·ṯî nə·ḡî·naṯ negiNat nəḡînaṯ neginaTam nəḡînāṯām neginaTi nəḡînāṯî ū·nə·ḡi·nō·w·ṯay ū·nə·ḡî·nō·wṯ unegiNot uneginoTai ūnəḡînōwṯ ūnəḡinōwṯayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 30:9 HEB: וְ֭עַתָּה נְגִינָתָ֣ם הָיִ֑יתִי וָאֱהִ֖י NAS: I have become their taunt, I have even become KJV: And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. INT: and now their taunt have become become Psalm 4:1 Psalm 6:1 Psalm 54:1 Psalm 55:1 Psalm 61:1 Psalm 69:12 Psalm 76:1 Psalm 77:6 Isaiah 38:20 Lamentations 3:14 Lamentations 5:14 Habakkuk 3:19 13 Occurrences |
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