Nâgan — H5059

Definition

verb

properly, to thrum, i.e. beat atune with the fingers; expectation. to play on astringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music

1. to play or strike strings, play a stringed instrument
1. (Qal)
1. player (participle)
2. (Piel)
1. to play
1. player, minstrel (participle)

Usually translated as

play, player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, player, playing, ministrel

Origin

a primitive root

Greek equivalents

• eulogéō (G2127)
• kitharízō (G2789)
• psállō (G5567)
• psalmós (G5568)

Occurrences

Nâgan occurs 15 times in 12 verses of the King James.

Distribution of the word across the Bible: 1 Samuel (6), 2 Kings (1), Psalms (2), Isaiah (2), Ezekiel (1)

• 1 Samuel 16:16 — Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player (מְנַגֵּ֣ן) on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
• 1 Samuel 16:16 — Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play (וְנִגֵּ֥ן) with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
• 1 Samuel 16:17 — And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play (לְנַגֵּ֔ן) well, and bring him to me.
• 1 Samuel 16:18 — Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing (נַ֠גֵּן), and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
• 1 Samuel 16:23 — And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played (וְנִגֵּ֣ן) with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
• 1 Samuel 18:10 — And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played (מְנַגֵּ֥ן) with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
• 1 Samuel 19:9 — And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played (מְנַגֵּ֥ן) with his hand.
• 2 Kings 3:15 — But now bring me a minstrel (מְנַגֵּ֑ן). And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
• 2 Kings 3:15 — But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel (כְּנַגֵּ֣ן) played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
• 2 Kings 3:15 — But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played (הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן), that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
• Psalms 33:3 — Sing unto him a new song; play (נַ֝גֵּ֗ן) skilfully with a loud noise.
• Psalms 68:25 — The singers went before, the players on instruments (נֹגְנִ֑ים) followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
• Isaiah 23:16 — Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody (נַגֵּן֙), sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
• Isaiah 38:20 — The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs (נְנַגֵּ֛ן) to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.
• Ezekiel 33:32 — And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument (נַגֵּ֑ן): for they hear thy words, but they do them not.