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נָגַד

𐤍𐤂𐤃

nâgad

H5046 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make known, inform, report, or declare (something) to someone; to announce or proclaim explicitly, often with connotations of clarity and sometimes of authoritative communication; to explain or expound information not previously known to the hearer. Used with both information and praise.

Semantic Range

to report, to declare, to announce, to expound, to explain, to make known, to proclaim, to praise, to reveal, to inform

Root / Etymology

From the root נגד, which at its most basic means 'to set or place before, to be in front of, to be opposite.' The verbal form נָגַד (nâgad) developed the extended sense of 'to set forth' or 'to lay out information before someone,' leading to its regular use in the sense of announcing or declaring. The semantic transition is from physical confrontation or facing (root meaning) to verbal presentation or communication (lexical meaning).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָגַד is widely employed in narratives and legal contexts to denote the act of reporting, announcing, or making known previously hidden or unknown matters, whether factual, legal verdicts, or divine messages. The usage covers a spectrum from simple reporting (e.g., Joseph's brothers 'telling' Jacob of an event) to the formal proclamation of laws, to the expounding or explanation of concepts or mysteries. The term is also used for praising (setting forth accomplishments), distinguishing it from more generic roots like אמר (to say) or דבר (to speak), which do not necessarily carry the sense of explicit revelation or announcement. In exilic and post-exilic texts, the term can carry a more formalized sense of official declaration, such as in legal or liturgical settings. Standard English translations as 'declare,' 'report,' or 'tell' capture most, but not all, nuances, sometimes flattening distinctions between revealing new information and simply recounting what is already known. Later Hebrew and Aramaic forms (such as the noun מַגִּיד) retain the sense of a declarer or narrator.

Translation Consistency

primary "declare" 337 occurrences

Declare best captures the SILEX sense of making something known publicly or authoritatively (announce/proclaim/explain) while still covering informing or reporting. It aligns well with frequent translations like “made known” and “declared,” and is natural English for both informational and praise contexts. 'Declare' is more precise than the overly general 'make' and more fitting for authoritative announcement than the casual 'tell,' so it gives a consistent, readable rendering across all forms.

Alternatives (34 occurrences):
"made" (15x) "make" (9x) "tell" (3x) "told" (1x) "us tell" (1x) "them make" (1x) "make it" (1x) "report" (1x) "make known to" (1x) "making" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נגד (n-g-d) — to set before, to be opposite, to confront, to present

Root נגד to set before, to be opposite, to confront, to present
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5047 נְגַד flowing
H5048 נֶגֶד as opposite him
H5049 נֶגֶד in front of
H5057 נָגִיד the leading ruler

Word Forms

57 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5046-34 וַ/יַּגֵּ֥ד vayaged HC/Vhw3ms and told and he made known and he declared 45
H5046-35 וַ/יַּגִּ֣דוּ vayagidu HC/Vhw3mp and they told and they made known and they declared 40
H5046-19 לְ/הַגִּ֣יד lehagid HR/Vhc to tell to make known to declare 25
H5046-36 וַ/יֻּגַּ֥ד vayugad HC/VHw3ms and it was told and it was made known and it was declared 24
H5046-14 הִגִּ֣יד higid HVhp3ms he told he made known he declared 23
H5046-56 יַגִּ֖יד yagid HVhi3ms declares he will make known he will declare 19
H5046-01 אַגִּֽיד agid HVhi1cs I will tell I will set forth I will declare 13
H5046-06 הַגִּ֥ידָ/ה hagidah HVhv2ms/Sh tell Declare! Declare! 13
H5046-04 הַגֵּ֣ד haged HVha tell declare plainly declare plainly 13
H5046-08 הַגִּ֣ידוּ hagidu HVhv2mp Declare Cause to make known Cause to declare 13

Occurrences in Scripture

371 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5046-14 Genesis 3:11 הִגִּ֣יד higid HVhp3ms told he made known he declared
H5046-34 Genesis 9:22 וַ/יַּגֵּ֥ד vayaged HC/Vhw3ms and told and he made known and he declared
H5046-11 Genesis 12:18 הִגַּ֣דְתָּ higadeta HVhp2ms did you tell you set forth you declared
H5046-34 Genesis 14:13 וַ/יַּגֵּ֖ד vayaged HC/Vhw3ms and told and he made known and he declared
H5046-11 Genesis 21:26 הִגַּ֣דְתָּ higadeta HVhp2ms tell you set forth you declared
H5046-36 Genesis 22:20 וַ/יֻּגַּ֥ד vayugad HC/VHw3ms it was told and it was made known and it was declared
H5046-07 Genesis 24:23 הַגִּ֥ידִי hagidi HVhv2fs tell me Make known! Declare!
H5046-33 Genesis 24:28 וַ/תַּגֵּ֖ד vataged HC/Vhw3fs and told and she made known and she declared
H5046-08 Genesis 24:49 הַגִּ֣ידוּ hagidu HVhv2mp tell Cause to make known Cause to declare
H5046-08 Genesis 24:49 הַגִּ֣ידוּ hagidu-2 HVhv2mp tell Cause to make known Cause to declare
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