נְגִינָה
𐤍𐤂𐤉𐤍𐤄
nᵉgîynâh
H5058 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A musical performance, melody, or song, often indicating an instrumental piece, especially associated with stringed instruments. In certain contexts, refers to a poetic composition intended to be sung or performed with instrumental accompaniment, and occasionally conveys the sense of a lament or a song of derision.
Semantic Range
instrumental music; melody; song performed with stringed instruments; musical accompaniment; poetic composition for musical performance; song of lament or derision; taunt song
Root / Etymology
From the root נגן (n-g-n), meaning 'to play (a stringed instrument),' with the feminine nominal ending ־ה, מַה. The noun נְגִינָה (nᵉgîynâ) thus denotes something played—primarily instrumental music or melody.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נְגִינָה appears in psalm headings (Psalms 4, 6, 54, 55, 61, 67, 76), likely as a performance instruction referencing string-accompanied song or instrumental interlude. The term is also found in prophetic literature (e.g., Lam 3:14; Isa 38:20; Hab 3:19), sometimes with the nuance of a taunting or mocking song, an elegy, or lament depending on the context. Its plural form, נְגִינוֹת (nᵉgînôth), most often occurs in superscriptions to Psalms, likely instructing that the piece be performed with stringed instruments. English translations such as 'song,' 'melody,' or 'stringed music' do not always capture the technical and emotional nuance, especially where נְגִינָה implies lament or mockery, as in certain prophetic passages. The related term מִזְמוֹר (mizmor) more broadly means 'psalm' or 'song,' not specifically instrumental, while נֶגֶן (negen) and מְלִיצָה (melitsah) denote 'instrument' and 'poetic/figurative speech,' respectively. Over time, the term preserved its association with liturgical and poetic performance, taking on dimensions of both musical style and, contextually, mood (joyous, sorrowful, or scornful).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or נְגִינַת; (Psalm 61:title), from נָגַן; properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigram; stringed instrument, musick, Neginoth (plural), song.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נגן (n-g-n) — to play, to perform music, to play a stringed instrument
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H101 | אַגָּן | hammered metal basin |
| H4485 | מַנְגִּינָה | their lament-song |
| H5059 | נָגַן | the string-player |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5058-01 |
בִּ/נְגִינ֗וֹת | bineginot | HR/Ncfpa |
with stringed instruments | with instrumental melodies | 6 |
H5058-05 |
נְגִינָתָ֣/ם | neginatam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their song | their instrumental melody | 2 |
H5058-07 |
וּ֝/נְגִינ֗וֹת | uneginot | HC/Ncfpa |
and stringed instruments | and instrumental melodies | 1 |
H5058-04 |
נְגִינַ֬ת | neginat | HNcfsc |
stringed instruments | instrumental melody of | 1 |
H5058-03 |
מִ/נְּגִינָתָֽ/ם | mineginatam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
from their music | from their instrumental melody | 1 |
H5058-02 |
בִּ/נְגִינוֹתָֽי | bineginotay | HR/Ncfpa |
with my stringed instruments | with my string-played melodies | 1 |
H5058-06 |
נְגִינָתִ֗/י | neginati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my song | my stringed melody | 1 |
H5058-08 |
וּ/נְגִנוֹתַ֧י | uneginotay | HC/Ncfpc |
and my songs | and my instrumental melodies | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
14 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5058-08 |
Isaiah 38:20 | וּ/נְגִנוֹתַ֧י | uneginotay | HC/Ncfpc |
and my songs | and my instrumental melodies |
H5058-02 |
Habakkuk 3:19 | בִּ/נְגִינוֹתָֽי | bineginotay | HR/Ncfpa |
with my stringed instruments | with my string-played melodies |
H5058-01 |
Psalms 4:1 | בִּ/נְגִינ֗וֹת | bineginot | HR/Ncfpa |
with stringed instruments | with instrumental melodies |
H5058-01 |
Psalms 6:1 | בִּ֭/נְגִינוֹת | bineginot | HR/Ncfpa |
with stringed instruments | with instrumental melodies |
H5058-01 |
Psalms 54:1 | בִּ/נְגִינֹ֗ת | bineginot | HR/Ncfpa |
with stringed instruments | with instrumental melodies |
H5058-01 |
Psalms 55:1 | בִּ/נְגִינֹ֗ת | bineginot | HR/Ncfpa |
with stringed instruments | with instrumental melodies |
H5058-04 |
Psalms 61:1 | נְגִינַ֬ת | neginat | HNcfsc |
stringed instruments | instrumental melody of |
H5058-01 |
Psalms 67:1 | בִּ/נְגִינֹ֗ת | bineginot | HR/Ncfpa |
with stringed instruments | with instrumental melodies |
H5058-07 |
Psalms 69:13 | וּ֝/נְגִינ֗וֹת | uneginot | HC/Ncfpa |
and stringed instruments | and instrumental melodies |
H5058-01 |
Psalms 76:1 | בִּ/נְגִינֹ֑ת | bineginot | HR/Ncfpa |
with stringed instruments | with instrumental melodies |