מְנַגֵּ֥ן

𐤌𐤍𐤂𐤍

nâgan

was playing

To play or perform music, particularly by striking or plucking a stringed instrument with the fingers. The verb can refer either to the act of making music (typically instrumental) or, less commonly, to singing accompanied by instrumental music. In most biblical contexts, it describes playing a lyre or harp, typically in a liturgical, royal, or prophetic setting. The semantic range includes to play (a stringed instrument), to make music, to perform musically, and to accompany with music.

H5059

1 Samuel 18:10 · Word #13

Lexicon H5059

Lemmaנָגַן
Lemma (Paleo)𐤍𐤂𐤍
Transliterationnâgan
Strong'sH5059
DefinitionTo play or perform music, particularly by striking or plucking a stringed instrument with the fingers. The verb can refer either to the act of making music (typically instrumental) or, less commonly, to singing accompanied by instrumental music. In most biblical contexts, it describes playing a lyre or harp, typically in a liturgical, royal, or prophetic setting. The semantic range includes to play (a stringed instrument), to make music, to perform musically, and to accompany with music.

Morphology HVprmsa All morphology codes

Part of Speech V — Verb — An action or state
Binyan p — Piel — Intensive active
Conjugation r — Participle Active — The one doing the action
Gender m — Masculine — Masculine
Number s — Singular — Singular
State a — Absolute — The noun stands independently

Common Translation

Phrasewas playing

SIBI-P1 Translation H5059-04

the string-player

Morphological NotesVerb, Piel stem (intensive/active), participle active, masculine singular, absolute.
Rendering RationaleThe Piel active participle masculine singular denotes one who actively and characteristically performs the action of the root. "The string-player" preserves the core idea of striking or plucking strings while reflecting the participial, agentive sense.

View full lexicon entry for H5059 →

SILEX v2

SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)

the string-player

Same as P1Yes
RationaleP1 correctly renders the participle in accordance with SILEX's specific definition.