5059. nagan
Lexical Summary
nagan: To play (a stringed instrument), to make music

Original Word: נָגַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nagan
Pronunciation: naw-GAN
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-gan')
KJV: player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, ministrel, play(-er, -ing)
NASB: play, playing, minstrel, minstrel played, musician, musicians, play songs
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to thrum, i.e. beat a tune with the fingers
2. (especially) to play on a stringed instrument
3. (hence, generally) to make music

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, ministrel, player,

A primitive root; properly, to thrum, i.e. Beat a tune with the fingers; expec. To play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music -- player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, ministrel, play(-er, -ing).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to touch or play a stringed instrument
NASB Translation
minstrel (1), minstrel played (1), musician (1), musicians (1), play (5), play songs (1), player (1), playing (2), plays (1), pluck the strings (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[נָגַּן] verb touch (strings), play a stringed instrument (Late Hebrew Pi`el; Aramaic נְגַן Pa`el); —

Qal Participle נֹגְנִים Psalm 68:26 players ("" שָׁרִים, עֲלָמוֺת תּוֺפֵפוֺת).

Pi`el Perfect וְנִגֵּן 1 Samuel 16:16 (consecutive), 1 Samuel 16:23; Imperfect1plural נְנַגֵּן Isaiah 38:20; Infinitive construct נַגֵּן 1 Samuel 16:17 5t.; Participle מְנַגֵּן 1 Samuel 16:16 4t.; — play בַּכִנּוֺר 1 Samuel 16:16; בְּיָדוֺ 1 Samuel 16:16; 1 Samuel 16:23 (כִּנּוֺר in context), 1 Samuel 18:10; 1 Samuel 19:9; with accusative of cognate meaning Isaiah 38:20; in simile מֵטִב נַגֵּן Ezekiel 33:32 ("" שִׁיר עֲגָבִים יְפֵהקֿוֺל); אִישׁ ׳מֵיטִיב לְנ 1 Samuel 16:17, compare Psalm 33:3; Isaiah 23:16 (both "" שִׁיר), ׳יָדַע נ 1 Samuel 16:18; also 2 Kings 3:15; Participle = player, minstrel (compare Qal) 2 Kings 3:15 (twice in verse); compare also אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ מְנַגֵּן בַכִנּוֺר 1 Samuel 16:16 (Ges§ 120b).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Distribution and Contexts

The verb נָגַן is recorded fifteen times, spanning historical narrative, poetry, prophecy, and wisdom literature. In every instance it denotes the deliberate performance of music on stringed instruments, most commonly the harp or lyre. The occurrences cluster around three principal settings: the royal court of Saul and David (1 Samuel), the prophetic ministry of Elisha (2 Kings 3:15), and corporate or illustrative worship scenes in Psalms, Isaiah, and Ezekiel.

Instrumental Role in the Royal Court

David’s entry into Saul’s service illustrates the therapeutic value of skillful playing. Eight of the fifteen references arise in 1 Samuel, underscoring how music offered godly relief amid spiritual distress.
1 Samuel 16:23: “Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take the harp and play; then relief would come to Saul, and the evil spirit would leave him.”
1 Samuel 18:10 and 19:9 reaffirm that David’s consistent ministry of music coincided with prophetic activity—both true (David) and false (Saul’s frenzied prophesying). The passages show that sacred musicianship was already recognized as a legitimate avenue for God’s calming presence in the monarchy.

Prophetic Ministry and Divine Inspiration

2 Kings 3:15 offers the clearest biblical connection between instrumental music and prophetic revelation: “But now, bring me a harpist. And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha.” The repetition of נָגַן three times in the verse magnifies its importance. Music functions not merely as accompaniment but as a God-ordained catalyst for receiving His word. The account validates the use of instrumental worship as a means by which prophets and recipients alike become sensitized to divine communication.

Corporate Worship and Psalmody

Within the Psalter, נָגַן speaks to ordered, skillful praise:
Psalm 33:3: “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.”
Psalm 68:25 depicts a liturgical procession—“The singers lead the way, the musicians follow”—establishing musicians as integral to public celebration.

These verses, paired with Isaiah 38:20 (“we will play my songs on stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the house of the LORD”), reveal that Israel’s worship culture prized excellence and regularity in instrumental service.

Expressions of Joy, Healing, and Lament

Isaiah 23:16 shows music’s commercial and evocative power even in secular settings, while Ezekiel 33:32 warns against treating beautiful performance as entertainment divorced from obedience: “Indeed, you are to them like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays skillfully an instrument; they listen to your words but they do not practice them.” Together the passages remind worshipers that true ministry through music must lead to transformed hearts.

Symbolic and Theological Themes

1. Presence: Whether soothing Saul or accompanying Elisha, נָגַן is linked to God drawing near.
2. Order and Skill: The repeated call to “play skillfully” (Psalm 33:3) affirms that artistic excellence honors the Creator.
3. Prophetic Sensitivity: Instrumental worship prepares human spirits to hear divine revelation, aligning with New Testament exhortations to be “filled with the Spirit … singing and making melody” (Ephesians 5:18-19).
4. Ethical Response: Ezekiel warns that appreciation without obedience empties worship of value.

Application in Contemporary Ministry

1. Pastoral Care: Like David’s harp, gentle, Scripture-saturated music can be a means of comfort for the afflicted.
2. Prophetic Atmosphere: Worship teams should view instrumental interludes as opportunities for the Spirit to bring conviction, guidance, and encouragement.
3. Liturgical Planning: Psalm 68:25 legitimizes well-ordered processions, choirs, and instrumental ensembles in congregational life.
4. Skill Development: Excellence in practice mirrors the biblical mandate to present God with our best offerings.

Summary

The verb נָגַן encapsulates the biblical vision of instrumental music as a sanctified act that invites God’s presence, facilitates prophetic insight, and edifies the people of God. From David’s royal therapy to Elisha’s prophetic prompting and the psalmists’ communal praise, every occurrence affirms that played-music, when offered in faith and obedience, remains a powerful vehicle for spiritual ministry.

Forms and Transliterations
הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן המנגן וְנִגֵּ֣ן וְנִגֵּ֥ן ונגן כְּנַגֵּ֣ן כנגן לְנַגֵּ֔ן לנגן מְנַגֵּ֑ן מְנַגֵּ֣ן מְנַגֵּ֥ן מנגן נְנַגֵּ֛ן נַ֝גֵּ֗ן נַ֠גֵּן נַגֵּ֑ן נַגֵּן֙ נֹגְנִ֑ים נגן נגנים ננגן ham·nag·gên hamnagGen hamnaggên kə·nag·gên kenagGen kənaggên lə·nag·gên lenagGen lənaggên mə·nag·gên menagGen mənaggên nag·gên Naggen naggên nə·nag·gên nenagGen nənaggên nō·ḡə·nîm nogeNim nōḡənîm venigGen wə·nig·gên wəniggên
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Englishman's Concordance
1 Samuel 16:16
HEB: אִ֕ישׁ יֹדֵ֖עַ מְנַגֵּ֣ן בַּכִּנּ֑וֹר וְהָיָ֗ה
NAS: who is a skillful player on the harp;
KJV: [who is] a cunning player on an harp:
INT: A man skillful player the harp shall come

1 Samuel 16:16
HEB: אֱלֹהִים֙ רָעָ֔ה וְנִגֵּ֥ן בְּיָד֖וֹ וְט֥וֹב
NAS: from God is on you, that he shall play [the harp] with his hand,
KJV: from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand,
INT: God the evil shall play his hand will be well

1 Samuel 16:17
HEB: אִ֚ישׁ מֵיטִ֣יב לְנַגֵּ֔ן וַהֲבִיאוֹתֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃
NAS: a man who can play well
KJV: me now a man that can play well,
INT: A man well play and bring then

1 Samuel 16:18
HEB: הַלַּחְמִי֒ יֹדֵ֣עַ נַ֠גֵּן וְגִבּ֨וֹר חַ֜יִל
NAS: who is a skillful musician, a mighty man
KJV: [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty
INT: the Bethlehemite skillful musician A mighty of valor

1 Samuel 16:23
HEB: אֶת־ הַכִּנּ֖וֹר וְנִגֵּ֣ן בְּיָד֑וֹ וְרָוַ֤ח
NAS: the harp and play [it] with his hand;
KJV: an harp, and played with his hand:
INT: David the harp and play his hand would be refreshed

1 Samuel 18:10
HEB: הַבַּ֔יִת וְדָוִ֛ד מְנַגֵּ֥ן בְּיָד֖וֹ כְּי֣וֹם ׀
NAS: while David was playing [the harp] with his hand,
KJV: and David played with his hand,
INT: of the house David was playing his hand usual

1 Samuel 19:9
HEB: בְּיָד֑וֹ וְדָוִ֖ד מְנַגֵּ֥ן בְּיָֽד׃
NAS: and David was playing [the harp] with [his] hand.
KJV: and David played with [his] hand.
INT: his hand and David was playing with hand

2 Kings 3:15
HEB: קְחוּ־ לִ֣י מְנַגֵּ֑ן וְהָיָה֙ כְּנַגֵּ֣ן
NAS: bring me a minstrel. And it came
KJV: But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel
INT: now bring A minstrel came the minstrel

2 Kings 3:15
HEB: מְנַגֵּ֑ן וְהָיָה֙ כְּנַגֵּ֣ן הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן וַתְּהִ֥י
NAS: And it came about, when the minstrel played,
KJV: me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played,
INT: A minstrel came the minstrel played came

2 Kings 3:15
HEB: וְהָיָה֙ כְּנַגֵּ֣ן הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֖יו
NAS: about, when the minstrel played, that the hand
KJV: And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand
INT: came the minstrel played came that

Psalm 33:3
HEB: חָדָ֑שׁ הֵיטִ֥יבוּ נַ֝גֵּ֗ן בִּתְרוּעָֽה׃
NAS: song; Play skillfully
KJV: song; play skilfully
INT: A new skillfully Play A shout

Psalm 68:25
HEB: שָׁ֭רִים אַחַ֣ר נֹגְנִ֑ים בְּת֥וֹךְ עֲ֝לָמ֗וֹת
NAS: went on, the musicians after
KJV: went before, the players on instruments [followed] after;
INT: the singers after the musicians the midst of the maidens

Isaiah 23:16
HEB: נִשְׁכָּחָ֑ה הֵיטִ֤יבִי נַגֵּן֙ הַרְבִּי־ שִׁ֔יר
NAS: harlot; Pluck the strings skillfully,
KJV: make sweet melody, sing many
INT: forgotten skillfully Pluck many songs

Isaiah 38:20
HEB: לְהוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי וּנְגִנוֹתַ֧י נְנַגֵּ֛ן כָּל־ יְמֵ֥י
NAS: will surely save me; So we will play my songs on stringed
KJV: me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days
INT: save my songs will play All days

Ezekiel 33:32
HEB: ק֖וֹל וּמֵטִ֣ב נַגֵּ֑ן וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־
NAS: voice and plays well
KJV: and can play well on an instrument: for they hear
INT: voice well and plays hear your words

15 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5059
15 Occurrences


ham·nag·gên — 1 Occ.
kə·nag·gên — 1 Occ.
lə·nag·gên — 1 Occ.
mə·nag·gên — 4 Occ.
nag·gên — 4 Occ.
nə·nag·gên — 1 Occ.
nō·ḡə·nîm — 1 Occ.
wə·nig·gên — 2 Occ.

5058
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