← H5056 H5058 →

נָגִיד

𐤍𐤂𐤉𐤃

nâgîyd

H5057 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נגד to be in front, to announce, to lead

Definition

A leader or one set over others; specifically, an individual appointed or recognized as a governor, prince, chief military commander, or other prominent administrator. Used for persons in authoritative positions across civil, military, and religious spheres. The term can refer to heads of clans, provincial governors, military leaders, high officials of the monarchy, or sometimes designates individuals chosen by divine command. The primary sense is that of a ruler or principal figure occupying a position of leadership.

Semantic Range

leader, chief official, prince, head of a group, governor, military commander, administrator, high official, head of temple administration

Root / Etymology

From the root נגד, which conveys the sense 'to be in front, to lead, to announce.' Derived from the verb נָגַד (nagad) meaning 'to tell, declare, lead, be conspicuous.' As a noun form, נָגִיד (nagid) refers to one who stands in a conspicuous position, i.e., a leader or chief; literally, 'one who stands in front.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early biblical texts (e.g., Samuel-Kings), נָגִיד commonly designates prominent leaders, especially military commanders or appointees of the monarchy (e.g., Saul appointed as nagid over Israel—1 Samuel 9:16; David as nagid over Judah—2 Samuel 5:2). It is frequently associated with leadership by divine appointment, in contrast to מלך (melech, 'king'), which may emphasize established monarchical authority. In later historical books (e.g., Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah), נָגִיד is sometimes used for governors or high officials in the post-exilic community, including Persian-appointed administrators. The term can denote both civil and military authority, but always with an emphasis on public prominence or elevation. In religious contexts, it may occasionally refer to high-ranking priests or temple officials. English translations vary: 'leader,' 'prince,' 'ruler,' 'governor,' 'chief,' and occasionally 'noble.' The scope of the term is broader than 'prince' in modern English and narrower than 'king.' The nuance often depends on historical and administrative context; it generally does not denote hereditary royalty but rather appointed or recognized leadership.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or נָגִד; from נָגַד; a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes; captain, chief, excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

נגד (n-g-d) — to be in front, to announce, to lead

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5046 נָגַד I will set forth
H5047 נְגַד flowing
H5048 נֶגֶד as opposite him
H5049 נֶגֶד in front of

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5057-04 נָגִ֛יד nagid HNcmsa ruler front-standing leader 19
H5057-02 לְ/נָגִיד֙ lenagid HR/Ncmsa as ruler to a front-standing leader 8
H5057-05 נְגִיד negid HNcmsc leader leader 6
H5057-07 נְגִידִ֑ים negidim HNcmpa captains front-standing leaders 4
H5057-01 הַ/נָּגִ֣יד hanagid HTd/Ncmsa the chief officer the leading ruler 3
H5057-08 וּ/לְ/נָגִ֖יד ulenagid HC/R/Ncmsa and the ruler and to a leader 1
H5057-09 וְ/נָגִ֣יד venagid HC/Ncmsa and leaders and leader 1
H5057-03 לִ/נְגִ֨יד linegid HR/Ncmsc to the ruler to a front-standing leader of 1
H5057-06 נְגִידֵי֙ negidey HNcmpc rulers leaders of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

44 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5057-02 1 Samuel 9:16 לְ/נָגִיד֙ lenagid HR/Ncmsa to be prince to a front-standing leader
H5057-02 1 Samuel 10:1 לְ/נָגִֽיד lenagid HR/Ncmsa to be ruler to a front-standing leader
H5057-02 1 Samuel 13:14 לְ/נָגִיד֙ lenagid HR/Ncmsa to be ruler to a front-standing leader
H5057-02 1 Samuel 25:30 לְ/נָגִ֖יד lenagid HR/Ncmsa as ruler to a front-standing leader
H5057-02 2 Samuel 5:2 לְ/נָגִ֖יד lenagid HR/Ncmsa ruler to a front-standing leader
H5057-04 2 Samuel 6:21 נָגִ֛יד nagid HNcmsa prince front-standing leader
H5057-04 2 Samuel 7:8 נָגִ֔יד nagid HNcmsa ruler front-standing leader
H5057-04 1 Kings 1:35 נָגִ֔יד nagid HNcmsa ruler front-standing leader
H5057-04 1 Kings 14:7 נָגִ֔יד nagid HNcmsa ruler front-standing leader
H5057-04 1 Kings 16:2 נָגִ֔יד nagid HNcmsa ruler front-standing leader
← H5056 Hebrew Lexicon H5058 →