Nail
For fastening. (1.) Hebrew yathed, “piercing,” a peg or nail of any material (Ezek 15:3), more especially a tent-peg (Ex 27:19; Ex 35:18; Ex 38:20), with one of which Jael (q.v.) pierced the temples of Sisera (Judg 4:21, Judg 4:22). This word is also used metaphorically (Zech 10:4) for a prince or counsellor, just as “the battle-bow” represents a warrior.
(2.) Masmer, a “point,” the usual word for a nail. The words of the wise are compared to “nails fastened by the masters of assemblies” (Eccl 12:11, A.V.). The Revised Version reads, “as nails well fastened are the words of the masters,” etc. Others (as Plumptre) read, “as nails fastened are the masters of assemblies” (comp. Isa 22:23; Ezra 9:8). David prepared nails for the temple (1 Chr 22:3; 2 Chr 3:9). The nails by which our Lord was fixed to the cross are mentioned (John 20:25; Col 2:14).
Nail of the finger (Heb. tsipporen, “scraping”). To “pare the nails” is in Deut 21:12 (marg., “make,” or “dress,” or “suffer to grow”) one of the signs of purification, separation from former heathenism (comp. Lev 14:8; Num 8:7). In Jer 17:1 this word is rendered “point.”
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
