A commander (as occupying the front ), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
The Hebrew noun nāgiyd identifies a leader, ruler, commander, chief official, or other person placed at the front of a community or institution. Its uses include civil, military, royal, and religious responsibility.
Reader summary
Full entry for נָגִיד (H5057) · Open the biblical lexicon
The Hebrew noun nāgiyd identifies a leader, ruler, commander, chief official, or other person placed at the front of a community or institution. Its uses include civil, military, royal, and religious responsibility.
The BSB source-word alignment has 44 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include ruler (10), the ruler (4), the chief official (3), A leader (2), a prince (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 9:16. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Chronicles (12), 2 Chronicles (9), 1 Samuel (4), 1 Kings (3).
The Hebrew noun nāgiyd identifies a leader, ruler, commander, chief official, or other person placed at the front of a community or institution. Its uses include civil, military, royal, and religious responsibility. David is appointed to shepherd Israel, Saul is anointed in response to the people’s cry, and court or temple officers receive defined administrative tasks.
Yet the title does not certify a leader’s character. Baasha is reminded that God raised him from the dust and made him ruler, then is judged for causing Israel to sin. Saul’s rule does not endure because he disobeys the Lord. The word therefore joins responsibility with accountability: a nāgiyd may be selected, entrusted, and publicly recognized, but appointment never makes correction unnecessary or wrongdoing harmless.
Faithful teaching should distinguish the office from the officeholder’s conduct and should measure leadership by the duties, limits, and judgment supplied in each passage.
Nāgiyd names leadership across royal, military, temple, and administrative settings, while the narratives repeatedly test whether the appointed ruler shepherds, obeys, and acts uprightly.
Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the Lord your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
The Lord’s word joins David’s public rule to shepherding God’s people, making care for the people integral to the commission.
“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
Saul’s anointing as ruler answers Israel’s cry under Philistine oppression and gives the office a stated protective purpose.
But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the Lord.”
Saul’s kingdom will not endure because he disobeyed the Lord, showing that appointment does not cancel covenant accountability.
“Even though I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have caused My people Israel to sin and to provoke Me to anger by their sins.
Baasha’s elevation from the dust is recalled alongside judgment for his sinful path and his corrupting effect on Israel.
Note that Amariah, the chief priest, will be over you in all that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. And the Levites will serve as officers before you. Act resolutely; may the Lord be with the upright!”
Religious and royal responsibilities are assigned to different leaders, and all the officers are charged to act resolutely and uprightly.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Hebrew word. Leader who stands foremost in authority—civilian, military, or religious; implies prominence and honor.
Leader who stands foremost in authority—civilian, military, or religious; implies prominence and honor.
a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes BDB: leader Usage: captain, chief, excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 44 lexical occurrence verses.
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Nāgiyd places a person at the front, but Scripture does not leave the word as a badge of status. David’s rule is expressed through shepherding. Saul’s commission responds to a suffering people’s cry, yet his later disobedience shows that a genuine appointment can be forfeited. Baasha’s rise from the dust is no defense when he leads Israel into sin. Other occurrences identify officials whose work is bounded by temple, household, military, or royal responsibilities.
The lexeme therefore helps readers separate recognition from righteousness. A leader may hold real office and still act faithlessly; an accountable office may carry dignity without making its holder beyond question. Christian teaching should resist both contempt for all leadership and automatic sanctification of leaders. It should ask whether authority protects, shepherds, administers justly, obeys God, and remains answerable for the effects of its decisions on people entrusted to its care.
1Chr.11.2
Nāgiyd is a masculine noun used for people at the front of civil, military, royal, temple, or administrative life. English renderings such as ruler, leader, prince, commander, governor, or chief should follow the institution and task named in context.
The New Testament continues to evaluate leadership through service, faithful stewardship, protection from harm, and accountability before God. Jesus identifies greatness with serving, while church overseers are judged by character and care rather than title alone. These connections illuminate the ethical pattern without treating every Israelite office as identical to church leadership.