Lexical Definition

‎נָגַן‎ nâgan (naw-gan') to play ^H:V
a primitive root

player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, ministrel, play(-er, -ing).

• 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
1a) (Qal)
1a1) player (participle)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to play
1b1a) player, minstrel (participle)

See Greek: εὐλογέω · κιθαρίζω · ψάλλω · ψαλμός

Brown-Driver-Briggs

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

Qal Participle ‎נֹגְנִים‎ Ps 68:26* players (|| ‎שָׁרִים‎, ‎עֲלָמוֺת תּוֺפֵפוֺת‎). Pi`el Perfect ‎וְנִגֵּן‎ 1Sam 16:16 (consecutive), v1Sam 16:23 Imperfect 1 plural ‎נְנַגֵּן‎ Isa 38:20 Infinitive construct ‎נַגֵּן‎ 1Sam 16:17 + 5 t.; Participle ‎מְנַגֵּן‎ 1Sam 16:16 + 4 t.; — play ‎בַּכִנּוֺר‎ 1Sam 16:16 ‎בְּיָדוֺ‎ v1Sam 16:16 v1Sam 16:23 (‎כִּנּוֺר‎ in context), 1Sam 18:10; 1Sam 19:9 with accusative of cognate meaning Isa 38:20 in simile ‎מֵטִב נַגֵּן‎ Ezek 33:32 (|| ‎שִׁיר עֲגָבִים יְפֵהקֿוֺל‎); ‎אִישׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎מֵיטִיב לְנ‎ 1Sam 16:17, compare Ps 33:3; Isa 23:16 (both || ‎שִׁיר‎), ‎׳‎‎יָדַע נ‎ 1Sam 16:18 also 2Kgs 3:15 Participle = player, minstrel (compare Qal) 2Kgs 3:15 (twice in verse); compare also ‎אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ מְנַגֵּן‎ ‎בַכִנּוֺר‎ 1Sam 16:16 (Ges^{«GKC:120b»§ 120b}).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References