Original Word: נָגִיד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: nagiyd
Pronunciation: naw-GEED
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-gheed')
KJV: captain, chief, excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler
NASB: leader, ruler, prince, chief officer, officer, chief, commander
Word Origin: [from H5046 (נָגַד - told)]

1. a commander (as occupying the front), either civil, military or religious
2. (generally, abstractly and plural), honorable themes

captain, chief, excellent thing, chief governor, leader, noble, prince, chief ruler

Or nagid {naw-gheed'}; from nagad; 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.

see HEBREW nagad

Word Origin
from nagad
Definition
a leader, ruler, prince
NASB Translation
chief (2), chief officer (3), commander (1), leader (14), noble things (1), nobles (1), officer (3), officers (1), officials (1), Prince (1), prince (5), princes (1), ruler (11).

נָגִיד noun masculine leader (literally probably one in front), ruler, prince; — absolute ׳נ 1 Samuel 9:16 31t.; construct (נְגִד) נְגִיד 2 Kings 20:5 6t.; plural נְגִידִים Job 29:10 3t.; נְגִידֵי2Chronicles 35:8; — ruler, prince Psalm 76:13; Proverbs 28:16; Job 29:10; Job 31:37 (in simile). Especially

1 of king of Israel: of Saul עַל ׳מָשַׁח לְנ (+ accusative of person), 1 Samuel 9:16 (subject prophet), compare of Solomon, subject people, 1 Chronicles 29:22; 1 Chronicles 10:1 (subject ׳י); of David עַל ׳צִוָּהוּ לְנ 1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 25:30, עַל צִוָּהוּ ׳נ 2 Samuel 6:21 (in these ׳י subject), על ׳היה לנ 2 Samuel 5:2, על ׳היה נ 2 Samuel 7:8; 1 Chronicles 11:2; 1 Chronicles 17:7; compare also 1 Chronicles 5:2; 2Chronicles 6:5; of David also ׳לְ ׳נָתַן נ Isaiah 55:4; of Solomon צִוָּה אֹתוֺ על ׳לִהְיוֺת נ 1 Kings 1:35 (׳י subject); of Jeroboam על ׳נתן נ ( + accusative of person) 1 Kings 14:7 (׳י subject); so 1 Kings 16:2 of Baasha; of Hezekiah עַָמִּי ׳נְ 2 Kings 20:5; הֶעֱמִיד בְּאֶחָיו ׳לְנ ( + accusative of person) 2 Chronicles 11:22 (of Abijah, subject Rehob.); of Judah 1 Chronicles 28:4.

2 of a foreign ruler or prince Ezekiel 28:2; Daniel 9:25,26.

3 the title of some high official connected with the temple Jeremiah 20:1 (of Pashhur) וְהוּא פָקִיד נָגִיד ׳בבית י and he was prince-overseer in, etc. (for ׳פ see Jeremiah 29:26); hence בית האלהים ׳נ 1 Chronicles 9:11; 2Chronicles 31:13; 35:8 (three ׳ה ׳נגידי ב, including the high-priest), Nehemiah 11:11; of high-priest Daniel 11:22 ׳בְּרִית נ.

4 ruler in other capacities (late): of tribe 1 Chronicles 27:16; 2Chronicles 19:11; of Korahites 2 Chronicles 9:20; of Aaronite warriors 2 Chron 12:27; of division of army 1 Chronicles 13:1; 1 Chronicles 27:4; 2Chronicles 11:11 (commandant of fortress), 2 Chronicles 32:21 (in Assyrian army: "" שַׂר); of temple-treasuries 1 Chronicles 26:24, compare 2Chronicles 31:12; הבית ׳נ2Chronicles 28:7 (i.e. of palace?).

5 princely thimgs, plural abstract Proverbs 8:6.

Scope of the Term

“Nāgîd” (Strong’s 5057) designates one who is publicly installed by God to govern, command, or supervise. The approximately forty-four occurrences move from the rise of Israel’s monarchy through post-exilic prophecy and embrace royal, military, priestly, and eschatological spheres.

Foundational Royal Occurrences

• Saul – “Tomorrow I will send you a man… and you shall anoint him ruler over My people Israel” (1 Samuel 9:16).
• David – “The LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people” (1 Samuel 13:14; cf. 2 Samuel 5:2).
• Solomon – “I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah” (1 Kings 1:35).
• Jeroboam – “I exalted you from among the people and made you ruler over My people Israel” (1 Kings 14:7).

The title stresses divine selection and covenant accountability; disobedience leads to replacement, as Saul’s rejection proves.

Military and Tribal Leadership

Chronicles assigns “nāgîd” to commanders and tribal heads who rallied to David (1 Chronicles 12:27; 27:16). The word depicts functional leaders who safeguard national unity and execute war in dependence on God.

Priestly Administration

Azariah was “leader of the house of God” (2 Chronicles 31:13). Pashhur “chief officer in the house of the LORD” imprisoned Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1). Temple officials titled “nāgîd” highlight stewardship of worship and resources.

Wisdom Commentary

“A leader without understanding is a great oppressor” (Proverbs 28:16). The Wisdom tradition attaches ethical weight to the office: just rule extends life; tyranny shortens it.

Foreign and Prophetic Use

• “Say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD…’” (Ezekiel 28:2) demonstrates that Gentile power is still subordinate to Yahweh.
• Daniel 9:25-26 presents “Messiah the Prince” and “the prince who is to come.” One secures salvation; the other destroys. The dual usage opens a window onto both the First Advent and end-time events.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Appointment – every “nāgîd” is raised up by the LORD.
2. Covenantal Accountability – obedience sustains the office; rebellion terminates it.
3. Representative Headship – the leader mediates God’s will to His people, prefiguring Christ.

Christological Fulfillment

“I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples” (Isaiah 55:4). Daniel’s “Messiah the Prince” materializes in Jesus Christ, whose resurrection crowns Him “ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5). Earthly “nāgîdîm” foreshadow His perfect reign.

Ministry Implications

• Church and civil leaders hold offices lent by God; humility and Scripture-shaped obedience are essential.
• Priestly “nāgîdîm” urge modern overseers to guard doctrine and finances faithfully.
• Believers pray for rulers (1 Timothy 2:2), trusting God’s sovereign oversight of every “nāgîd,” righteous or rebellious.

Related Titles

“Melek” spotlights sovereignty; “sar” highlights military command; “nasi” accents princely dignity. “Nāgîd” uniquely stresses God-given appointment and responsibility.

Summary

Whether describing Saul’s fragile start, David’s covenant faithfulness, priestly stewards, foreign potentates, or the coming Messiah, “nāgîd” frames leadership as a sacred trust granted by God, answerable to His word, and ultimately perfected in Jesus Christ.

הַנָּגִ֑יד הַנָּגִ֣יד הַנָּגִ֤יד הנגיד וְנָגִ֣יד וּלְנָגִ֖יד ולנגיד ונגיד לְנָגִ֔יד לְנָגִ֖יד לְנָגִ֣יד לְנָגִ֥יד לְנָגִֽיד׃ לְנָגִיד֙ לִנְגִ֨יד לנגיד לנגיד׃ נְגִ֖ד נְגִ֖יד נְגִ֣יד נְגִ֥יד נְגִידִ֑ים נְגִידִ֔ים נְגִידִ֣ים נְגִידִ֥ים נְגִידֵי֙ נְגִיד־ נָ֝גִ֗יד נָגִ֔יד נָגִ֖יד נָגִ֗יד נָגִ֛יד נָגִ֤יד נָגִ֥יד נָגִ֨יד נָגִֽיד׃ נָגִיד֙ נגד נגיד נגיד־ נגיד׃ נגידי נגידים han·nā·ḡîḏ hannaGid hannāḡîḏ lə·nā·ḡîḏ lenaGid lənāḡîḏ lin·ḡîḏ linGid linḡîḏ nā·ḡîḏ naGid nāḡîḏ nə·ḡî·ḏê nə·ḡî·ḏîm nə·ḡiḏ nə·ḡîḏ nə·ḡîḏ- negid nəḡiḏ nəḡîḏ nəḡîḏ- nəḡîḏê negiDei negiDim nəḡîḏîm ū·lə·nā·ḡîḏ ulenaGid ūlənāḡîḏ venaGid wə·nā·ḡîḏ wənāḡîḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts