Lexical Summary nagan: To play (a stringed instrument), to make music Original Word: נָגַן 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 Origina 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. 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: 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. Application in Contemporary Ministry 1. Pastoral Care: Like David’s harp, gentle, Scripture-saturated music can be a means of comfort for the afflicted. 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 wəniggênLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 1 Samuel 16:17 1 Samuel 16:18 1 Samuel 16:23 1 Samuel 18:10 1 Samuel 19:9 2 Kings 3:15 2 Kings 3:15 2 Kings 3:15 Psalm 33:3 Psalm 68:25 Isaiah 23:16 Isaiah 38:20 Ezekiel 33:32 15 Occurrences |
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