Lexical Summary na'iym: Pleasant, delightful, lovely Original Word: נָעִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pleasanture, sweet From na'em; delightful (objective or subjective, literal or figurative) -- pleasant(-ure), sweet. see HEBREW na'em Brown-Driver-Briggs I. נָעִים adjective pleasant, delightful (poetry); — absolute ׳נ Proverbs 22:18 +; construct נְעִים 2 Samuel 23:1 plural נְעִמִים Psalm 16:6, נְעִימִם 2 Samuel 1:23, נְעִימִים Proverbs 23:8; feminine נְעִמוֺת Psalm 16:11; — 1 delightful בְּחַיֵּיהֶם ׳הַנֶּאֱהָבִים וְהַנּ 2 Samuel 1:23 (of Saul and Jonath.); of wealth, ׳הוֺן יָקָר וְנ Proverbs 24:4; words Proverbs 23:8; of acts, etc.: ׳מַהטּֿוֺב וּמַהנּֿ שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּםיָֿחַ֑ד Psalm 133:1; singing praises to ׳י, Psalm 135:3; Psalm 147:1; keeping wise teachings Proverbs 22:18; as substantive = delight יְכַלּוּ יְמֵיהֶם בַּטּוֺב וּשְׁנֵיהֶם בַּנְּעִימִים Job 36:11 (of earthly prosperity); of spiritual delights Psalm 16:6; Psalm 16:11. 2 lovely, beautiful (physically), Songs 1:16 ("" יָפֶה). — Psalm 81:3; 2 Samuel 23:1 see II. נָעִים below II. נעם. II. נָעִים adjective perhaps singing, sweetly sounding, musical; — absolute ׳כִּנּוֺר נ Psalm 81:3 sweetly-sounding lyre; construct, as substantive, ׳נְעִים זְמִרוֺת יִשׂ 2 Samuel 23:1 Israel's sweet singer of songs (compare Dr2Samuel 8:10 Löhr; ᵑ9 egregius psaltes Israel, and so Ges Ew and others, from I. נעם; joy of the songs of Israel HPS, compare Klo Kit). נעץ (√ of following; Late Hebrew נָעַץ prick, stick or thrust in, wedge in; ᵑ7 נְעַץ id.; Late Hebrew נַעֲצוּץ figurative of wicked person; ᵑ7 נַעֲצוּצָא = Biblical Hebrew). Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Thematic Thread Across narrative, poetry, and wisdom texts, נָעִים signals a goodness that is sensed and celebrated because it flows from the covenant God. Its occurrences frame “pleasantness” as a quality that reaches its full meaning when directed toward or bestowed by the LORD. Association with Worship and Music • David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1), sets the benchmark for Spirit-filled artistry. Pleasantness of Divine Fellowship Psalm 16 uses נָעִים for the believer’s inheritance (verse 6) and the “eternal pleasures” at God’s right hand (verse 11). Psalm 133:1 extends the thought corporately: “how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” Unity is thus both ethical and delightful, a foretaste of the communion of saints. Royal and Historical Significance David’s lament—“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in life” (2 Samuel 1:23)—honors covenant loyalty even in a fractured monarchy. The term links royal dignity with relational beauty, foreshadowing the Messiah whose kingship and worship are perfectly joined. Wisdom Literature and Human Experience • Job 36:11 promises that obedience yields “years in pleasantness.” Christological Fulfillment Peter applies Psalm 16 to the resurrection (Acts 2:25-32), showing that the “eternal pleasures” are secured in Christ. The Father’s proclamation, “With Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17), reveals the Son as the ultimate embodiment of נָעִים and the source of every lesser delight. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications 1. Worship that centers on God’s character will be genuinely pleasant. Conclusion נָעִים weaves a theology of beauty: what is truly pleasant is rooted in God, expressed in worship, embodied in righteous relationships, and fulfilled eternally in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations בַּנְּעִימִֽים׃ בַּנְּעִמִ֑ים בנעימים׃ בנעמים הַנְּעִימִֽים׃ הנעימים׃ וְהַנְּעִימִם֙ וְנָעִֽים׃ וּנְעִ֖ים והנעימם ונעים ונעים׃ נְעִמ֖וֹת נָ֝עִים נָ֭עִים נָּעִ֑ים נָעִ֔ים נָעִ֣ים נָעִֽים׃ נעים נעים׃ נעמות ban·nə·‘i·mîm ban·nə·‘î·mîm bannə‘imîm bannə‘îmîm banneiMim han·nə·‘î·mîm hannə‘îmîm hanneiMim nā‘îm nā·‘îm naIm nə‘imōwṯ nə·‘i·mō·wṯ neiMot ū·nə·‘îm ūnə‘îm uneIm vehanneiMim venaIm wə·han·nə·‘î·mim wə·nā·‘îm wəhannə‘îmim wənā‘îmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 1:23 HEB: וִיהוֹנָתָ֗ן הַנֶּאֱהָבִ֤ים וְהַנְּעִימִם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וּבְמוֹתָ֖ם NAS: beloved and pleasant in their life, KJV: [were] lovely and pleasant in their lives, INT: and Jonathan beloved and pleasant their lives their death 2 Samuel 23:1 Job 36:11 Psalm 16:6 Psalm 16:11 Psalm 81:2 Psalm 133:1 Psalm 135:3 Psalm 147:1 Proverbs 22:18 Proverbs 23:8 Proverbs 24:4 Songs 1:16 13 Occurrences |