Lexical Summary
neged: Before, in front of, opposite, against, in the presence of
Original Word:נֶגֶד
Part of Speech:substantive; adverb; preposition; adverb; preposition
Transliteration:neged
Pronunciation:NEH-ged
Phonetic Spelling:(neh'-ghed)
KJV: about, (over) against, X aloof, X far (off), X from, over, presence, X other side, sight, X to view
NASB:before, opposite, front, presence, against, straight ahead, sight
Word Origin:[fromH5046 (נָגַד - told)]
1. a front, i.e. part opposite
2. specifically a counterpart, or mate
3. usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
about, over against, aloof, far off, from, over, presence, other side,
Fromnagad; a front, i.e. Part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before -- about, (over) against, X aloof, X far (off), X from, over, presence, X other side, sight, X to view.
see HEBREWnagad
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
nagadDefinitionin front of, in sight of, opposite to
NASB Translationagainst (3), aloof* (3), away (1), before (60), broad (1), demoralized* (1), directly (1), distance* (3), front (15), opposite (16), opposite* (5), other side (1), presence (13), resist* (1), risked* (1), sight (2), sight* (2), straight ahead (3), straight before (1), suitable (2), under (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
151 , always as
or
, , construct , suffixPsalm 38:11 +,Psalm 38:10 +, etc.; withlocativePsalm 116:14;Psalm 116:18; —
in front of,
(rather stronger and distincter than ), (a)Genesis 31:32in front of our brethren own it, now,Genesis 31:37;Genesis 47:15 why should we diein thy sight ?Exodus 19:2 Israel encampedin front of the mountain,Exodus 34:10 ,before, in sight of, all thy people (comparePsalm 78:12),Joshua 3:16 the people passed overin front of J.,1 Kings 20:27, etc.;Nehemiah 3:23in front of their house,Nehemiah 3:29;Deuteronomy 31:11;Joshua 8:35 =1 Samuel 15:30;2 Samuel 12:12 +;1 Kings 21:13 set Naboth ;1 Samuel 12:3;1 Samuel 16:6 , soPsalm 89:37,Psalm 18:13;Numbers 25:4;2 Samuel 12:12;Psalm 22:26 ,Psalm 52:11 (so in poetryPsalm 116:14;Psalm 116:18); hostilely,Job 10:17; with collateral idea ofto the mortification of,Psalm 23:5;Psalm 31:20, compareJoel 1:16; with collateral idea of beingopen orknown to,Proverbs 15:11 ,Job 26:6;Psalm 38:10 "" ,Psalm 69:20 ("" ),Psalm 119:168;Isaiah 59:12; soHosea 7:2. (b) with reflexive suffix, and verb of motion, to goin front of oneself, i.e.straightforward,Joshua 6:5 eachstraightforward,Joshua 6:20;Amos 4:3;Jeremiah 31:29;Nehemiah 12:37, compareProverbs 4:25.
,Psalm 38:18 ,Psalm 44:16;Psalm 51:5 ,Psalm 109:15 (remembered by): nearly = ,Isaiah 40:17;Psalm 39:6; soIsaiah 5:21. ButExodus 10:10before your face is = in your view, or purpose (comparePsalm 101:3).
With prepositions:
according to what is in front of =corresponding to,Genesis 2:18 I will make him a helpcorresponding to him i.e. equal and adequate to himself,Genesis 2:20 among the animals there was no . Note that in Late Hebrew =in front of, Ber 4:5; 9:5; Ab 2:10, Git 7:7 and elsewhere.
in front of, before,Genesis 33:12 ,Numbers 22:32;2 Kings 1:13 fell on his knees ,Isaiah 1:7 your ground ; withJoshua 5:13;Daniel 8:15;Daniel 10:16, in a hostile senseDaniel 10:13, compareProverbs 21:30;in the sight orpresence of,Habakkuk 1:3 ,Psalm 39:2 ,Psalm 50:8 ,Nehemiah 3:37;opposite to (probably of opposite choirs),Nehemiah 12:9,24; =parallel to,1 Chronicles 5:11; =over, for, a business (peculiar)Nehemiah 11:22; figurative of what is visible morally,Psalm 18:23 ("" ), withto set orplacePsalm 16:8;Psalm 54:5 (comparePsalm 86:14,),Psalm 90:8; often in the phrase , both literal, asJob 4:16 ,Psalm 5:6 (comparePsalm 101:7); and in a moral sense,Psalm 18:25 ,Psalm 26:3 i.e. is ever present to my mind,Psalm 36:2 i.e. he has no eye to discern God's awe-inspiring judgments (comparePsalm 10:5); with i.e. have in view, purpose ("" )Psalm 101:3.
(a)
off (
)the front, in front, opposite, ex adverso,Genesis 21:16 sat her downopposite,Genesis 21:16,2 Kings 2:7;Deuteronomy 28:66 shall be hung up for theein front (i.e. suspended, as by a thread, in front of thee);Judges 9:17 and flung away his lifein front orstraight away (i.e. hazarded it); =some way off, from orat a distance,Numbers 2:2;Deuteronomy 32:52 ,2 Kings 2:15at a distance,2 Kings 3:22;2 Kings 4:25;aloof,2 Samuel 18:13 , Obadiah 11 (b) as a
(a)from the front of, away from,Songs 6:5 ,1 Samuel 26:20 ;from before the eyes of, with verbs of removingIsaiah 1:16, cutting offPsalm 31:23;Jonah 2:5, hidingAmos 9:3;Jeremiah 16:17. ()opposite to,Nehemiah 3:19,25,27;at a distance from,Psalm 10:5 ,Psalm 38:12 . ()from before,Proverbs 14:7,in front ofJudges 20:34.
as far as the front of,Nehemiah 3:16,26.
Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Core Ideaנֶגֶד functions as a relational and spatial marker that points to something placed “in front of,” “in full view of,” or “in counterpart to” another. Throughout Scripture it frames encounters—between God and humanity, between individuals, between nations, and even between ideas. Whether it introduces divine presence (“before Me”), corporate assembly (“before the congregation”), geographic location (“opposite Gilgal”), or personal correspondence (“a helper suited to him”), it signals intentional orientation and accountability.
Scope of Biblical Usage
Approximately one-hundred-fifty Old Testament verses employ נֶגֶד. They cluster around several key settings:
1. Covenant and Law (Exodus, Deuteronomy)
2. Worship and Prayer (Psalms, Chronicles)
3. Marriage and Family (Genesis)
4. Governance and Judgment (Samuel–Kings, Chronicles)
5. Prophetic Confrontation (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel)
6. Geographical Description (Joshua–Kings)
7. Wisdom and Instruction (Proverbs, Job)
Covenantal Exclusivity
Exodus 20:3 anchors the Decalogue: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” נֶגֶד announces the exclusive claim of Yahweh on His people’s worship. The same orientation resurfaces when Israel is warned not to set idols “before” Him (Deuteronomy 32:16). Every breach of covenant is, at its core, a violation committed “in His face,” underscoring that sin is never private but lived before the holy God.
Marriage and Complementarity
Genesis 2:18 introduces Eve as “a helper suitable for him.” Here נֶגֶד conveys correspondence rather than opposition: the woman is crafted to stand face-to-face with the man, equal in worth, distinct in role. The concept supports a theology of marriage built on mutual partnership under divine oversight.
Worship in the Assembly
David frequently chooses נֶגֶד when describing corporate praise:
Psalm 22:22, “I will declare Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.”
Psalm 26:12, “My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.”
Corporate worship is deliberately public: God’s deeds are proclaimed “in front of” the gathered saints, fostering communal remembrance and witness.
Geographical and Military Strategy
Joshua 8:11 situates Israel “directly opposite the city” of Ai. נֶגֶד supplies tactical clarity: armies set themselves in visible array, cities sit across valleys, tribes occupy lands “facing” one another (Judges 18:28;Deuteronomy 11:30). The term preserves historical memory of real places, lending credibility to the biblical narrative and grounding redemptive history in geography.
Judicial and Royal Settings
When Samuel presents the monarchy’s charter, he does so “in the presence of the LORD” and “before the people” (1 Samuel 10:25). נֶגֶד binds king and nation to divine oversight. Likewise, Nathan confronts David “before” God (2 Samuel 12:7), modeling prophetic courage that stands face-to-face with authority yet ultimately answers to a higher throne.
Prophetic Witness
Isaiah 48:16 announces, “From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time it came to be, there I was.” The prophetic word is delivered openly, “not in secret places of a land of darkness” (cf. Isaiah 45:19). נֶגֶד reinforces that revelation is accessible and verifiable, leaving the hearer without excuse.
Temple Orientation and Ritual
2 Chronicles 3:4 notes the porch of Solomon’s temple that stood “in front of the main hall.” Liturgical vessels and choirs also minister “before the LORD” (1 Chronicles 16:4). נֶגֶד underlines sacred order: every priestly action occurs consciously in the view of God, a reality fulfilled in the heavenly ministry of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9).
Wisdom Literature
Proverbs 5:21 warns, “For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and He examines all his paths.” נֶגֶד trains the conscience, inviting an awareness that life unfolds under divine gaze. Ecclesiastes 6:5 contrasts a stillborn child who “has not seen the sun or known anything” with one who lives “under the sun,” again employing the notion of being set before the created order.
Typological and Christological Insights
By repeatedly placing events “before the LORD,” נֶגֶד anticipates the incarnation, when the invisible God stands bodily before humanity (John 1:14). The face-to-face motif culminates in Revelation 22:4, “They will see His face,” where redeemed believers dwell perpetually “in front of” God’s unveiled glory.
Pastoral Application
• Encourage believers to cultivate coram Deo living, recognizing every thought and deed occurs נֶגֶד—the presence of God (Psalm 139:1-4).
• Emphasize public confession of faith: baptism, testimony, and corporate worship are designed to be “before many witnesses” (cf. 1 Timothy 6:12).
• Uphold marital complementarity rooted in Genesis 2:18, showcasing God’s design for mutual support and harmony.
• Foster transparent leadership; elders and deacons serve “in full view” of the congregation and of God, echoing 1 Peter 5:2-4.
Selected Key Occurrences for Study
Genesis 17:18; 24:51
Exodus 10:10; 34:11
Leviticus 8:35
Deuteronomy 1:22; 31:26
Joshua 24:1
1 Samuel 3:1; 12:2
2 Samuel 6:5
1 Kings 8:59
2 Chronicles 29:25
Nehemiah 2:6
Job 1:11
Psalm 95:2; 116:14
Proverbs 14:15
Isaiah 40:16
Jeremiah 42:2
Ezekiel 8:1; 20:12
Zechariah 3:1
Summary
נֶגֶד threads through Scripture as a constant reminder that all creation stands exposed before its Creator, that relationships thrive when lived face-to-face in truth, and that worship, judgment, and redemption are conducted in the full light of God’s presence.
Forms and Transliterations
וְנֶ֣גֶד וְנֶ֥גֶד וְנֶגְדָּ֗ם ונגד ונגדם כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃ כנגדו׃ לְנֶ֖גֶד לְנֶ֣גֶד לְנֶ֥גֶד לְנֶגְדְּכֶם֙ לְנֶגְדִּ֑י לְנֶגְדִּ֔י לְנֶגְדִּ֖י לְנֶגְדִּ֣י לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃ לְנֶגְדִּי֙ לְנֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ לְנֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃ לְנֶגְדָּ֔ם לְנֶגְדָּ֖ם לְנֶגְדָּ֗ם לְנֶגְדָּ֣ם לְנֶגְדָּֽם׃ לְנֶגְדּ֔וֹ לנגד לנגדו לנגדי לנגדי׃ לנגדך לנגדך׃ לנגדכם לנגדם לנגדם׃ מִ֭נֶּגֶד מִנֶּ֑גֶד מִנֶּ֔גֶד מִנֶּ֕גֶד מִנֶּ֖גֶד מִנֶּ֗גֶד מִנֶּ֛גֶד מִנֶּ֜גֶד מִנֶּ֣גֶד מִנֶּ֤גֶד מִנֶּ֥גֶד מִנֶּ֨גֶד מִנֶּ֪גֶד מִנֶּֽגֶד׃ מִנֶּגְדִּ֔י מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ מנגד מנגד׃ מנגדו מנגדי נֶ֖גֶד נֶ֙גֶד֙ נֶ֚גֶד נֶ֛גֶד נֶ֜גֶד נֶ֝֗גֶד נֶ֝גְדְּךָ֗ נֶ֣גֶד נֶ֤גֶד נֶ֥גֶד נֶ֧גֶד נֶ֨גֶד נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ נֶֽגֶד־ נֶגְדְּךָ֥ נֶגְדִּ֑י נֶגְדִּ֖י נֶגְדִּ֗י נֶגְדִּ֣י נֶגְדִּֽי׃ נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ נֶגְדֶּ֔ךָ נֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃ נֶגְדָּ֑הּ נֶגְדָּ֔ם נֶגְדָּ֗ם נֶגְדָה־ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ נֶגְדּ֔וֹ נֶגְדּֽוֹ׃ נֶגְדּוֹ֒ נֶגֶד֩ נגד נגד־ נגדה נגדה־ נגדו נגדו׃ נגדי נגדי׃ נגדך נגדך׃ נגדם kə·neḡ·dōw kenegDo kəneḡdōw lə·ne·ḡeḏ lə·neḡ·dām lə·neḡ·de·ḵā lə·neḡ·də·ḵem lə·neḡ·dî lə·neḡ·dōw lenegDam ləneḡdām lenegDecha lenegdeChem ləneḡdeḵā ləneḡdəḵem lenegDi ləneḡdî lenegDo ləneḡdōw leNeged ləneḡeḏ min·ne·ḡeḏ min·neḡ·dî min·neḡ·dōw minnegDi minneḡdî minnegDo minneḡdōw minNeged minneḡeḏ ne·ḡeḏ ne·ḡeḏ- neḡ·dāh neḡ·ḏāh- neḡ·dām neḡ·de·ḵā neḡ·də·ḵā neḡ·dî neḡ·dōw negdah neḡdāh neḡḏāh- negDam neḡdām negDecha neḡdeḵā neḡdəḵā negDi neḡdî negDo neḡdōw Neged neḡeḏ neḡeḏ- venegDam veNeged wə·ne·ḡeḏ wə·neḡ·dām wəneḡdām wəneḡeḏ
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