Neginah

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Fausset's Bible Dictionary [1]

Neginah Hebrew Neginath (singular). Title of Psalm 61. The construct form; translated therefore "upon the instrumental music of David." As  Habakkuk 3:19 "to the chief singer on my stringed instruments"; also  Amos 6:5, "invent instruments of music like David." NEGINOTH (plural), the general name for all stringed instruments ( 1 Samuel 18:6;  1 Samuel 18:10;  1 Samuel 19:9;  1 Samuel 16:16-18;  1 Samuel 16:23;  Psalms 33:2;  Psalms 92:3;  Psalms 68:25;  Psalms 150:4), played with the hand or a plectrum or quill; from Nigeen , "performed music." Psalm 4's title: for "on" translated ( ... ) "to be accompanied with stringed instruments" (Hengstenberg); chapters 6, 54, 55, 67, 76.

But Delitzsch: "Neginah denotes not a particular stringed instrument, but the music on such instruments (Often A Taunting Song In Hebrew,  Psalms 69:12 ;  Job 30:9 ) ; Neginoth is the music formed by numerous notes running into one another, not various instruments." In  Habakkuk 3:19 the direction is the prophet's to the precentor or "chief singer," how the ode was to be performed in the temple liturgy. He had a stringed instrument of his own ("my") of a form adapted to accompany his subject; or rather (Hengstenberg) the "my" is Israel's sacred national temple music. As Shigionoth in the beginning marks the melody erratic and enthusiastically irregular as suited to the subject, so Neginoth at the close directs as to the instrument to be used (compare  Isaiah 38:20).

Smith's Bible Dictionary [2]

Neginah. (Stringed Instruments). The Singular Of Neginoth . If occurs in the title of  Psalms 61:1. It is the general term by which all stringed instruments are described. "The chief musician on Neginoth," was, therefore, the conductor of that portion of the Temple-choir, who played upon the stringed instruments, and who are mentioned in  Psalms 68:25.

Easton's Bible Dictionary [3]

 Psalm 61 1 Samuel 16:16 Isaiah 38:20

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [4]

נְגַינִת Neginath'), (Ἐν Ὕμνοις (In Hymnis)  1 Samuel 16:16 Isaiah 38:20 Songs To Be Accompanied With Stringed Instruments  Psalms 77:7 Song Of Derision  Job 30:9Neginoth

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