1. Of finger. (a) A nail or claw of man or animal. (b) A point or style e.g. for writing; see (Jeremiah 17:1)
2. (a) A nail, (Isaiah 11:7) a stake, (Isaiah 33:20) also a tent-peg. Tent-pegs were usually of wood and of large size; but some times, as was the case with those used to fasten the curtains of the tabernacle of metal. (Exodus 27:19; 38:20) (b) A nail, primarily a point. We are told that David prepared iron for the nails to be used in the temple; and as the holy of holies was plated with gold, the nails for fastening the plates were probably of gold.

The "nail" with which Jael killed Sisera was rather a tent-pin, such as is driven into the ground in order to fasten the cords of the tent, Exodus 27:19 Jud 4:21-22. Sometimes the Hebrew word is used for the wooden pins or iron spikes firmly inwrought into the walls of a building, Ezra 9:8 Ezekiel 15:3. The word implies fixedness, Isaiah 22:23; and a firm support, Zechariah 10:4. Another Hebrew word describes the golden and ornamental nails of the temple, etc., 2 Chronicles 3:9 Ecclesiastes 12:11 Isaiah 41:7 Jeremiah 10:4.

nal: (1) As denoting the finger-nail, the Hebrew word is tsipporen (Deuteronomy 21:12), the captive woman "shall shave her head, and pare her nails." The latter was probably intended to prevent her from marring her beauty by scratching her face, an act of self-mutilation oriental women are repeatedly reported to have committed in the agony of their grief. Aramaic Tephar (Daniel 4:33, "his nails like birds' claws"). (2) As pin or peg (for tents, or driven into the wall) the word is yathedh (in Judges 4:21 the Revised Version (British and American), "tent-pin"); in Isaiah 22:23, "a nail in a sure place" is a peg firmly driven into the wall on which something is to be hung (22:24); compare Ecclesiastes 12:11, where the word is masmeroth, cognate with macmer below. (3) For nails of iron (1 Chronicles 22:3) and gold (2 Chronicles 3:9), and in Isaiah 41:7 and Jeremiah 10:4, the word is macmer. (4) In the New Testament the word is helos, used of the nails in Christ's hands (John 20:25), and "to nail" in Colossians 2:14 ("nailing it to the cross") is proseloo.

In a figurative sense the word is used of the hard point of a stylus or engraving tool: "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point (literally, "claw," "nail") of a diamond: it is graven upon the tablet of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars" (Jeremiah 17:1).

James Orr

(1.) Hebrew yathed, "piercing," a peg or nail of any material (Ezek. 15:3), more especially a tent-peg (Exodus 27:19; 35:18; 38:20), with one of which Jael (q.v.) pierced the temples of Sisera (Judges 4:21, 22). This word is also used metaphorically (Zechariah 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" (Ecclesiastes 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. Isaiah 22:23; Ezra 9:8). David prepared nails for the temple (1 Chronicles 22:3; 2 Chronicles 3:9). The nails by which our Lord was fixed to the cross are mentioned (John 20:25; Colossians 2:14).

Nail of the finger (Hebrews tsipporen, "scraping"). To "pare the nails" is in Deuteronomy 21:12 (marg., "make, " or "dress, " or "suffer to grow") one of the signs of purification, separation from former heathenism (Comp. Leviticus 14:8; Numbers 8:7). In Jeremiah 17:1 this word is rendered "point."

2. (n.) The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of certain hemiptera.

3. (n.) The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks, and other allied birds.

4. (n.) A slender, pointed piece of metal, usually with a head, used for fastening pieces of wood or other material together, by being driven into or through them.

5. (n.) A measure of length, being two inches and a quarter, or the sixteenth of a yard.

6. (n.) To fasten with a nail or nails; to close up or secure by means of nails; as, to nail boards to the beams.

7. (n.) To stud or boss with nails, or as with nails.

8. (n.) To fasten, as with a nail; to bind or hold, as to a bargain or to acquiescence in an argument or assertion; hence, to catch; to trap.

9. (n.) To spike, as a cannon.

4548. masmer -- a nail
... a nail. Transliteration: masmer or mismer or masmerah or mismerah or masmerah
Phonetic Spelling: (mas-mare') Short Definition: nails. ... nail. ...
/hebrew/4548.htm - 6k

4930. masmerah -- nail
... << 4929, 4930. masmerah. 4931 >>. nail. Transliteration: masmerah Phonetic Spelling:
(mas-mer-aw') Short Definition: nail. ... nail For macmer fem.; a peg -- nail. ...
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6856. tsipporen -- fingernail, stylus point
... nails. Word Origin from an unused word Definition fingernail, stylus point
NASB Word Usage nails (1), point (1). nail, point. From ...
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3489. yathed -- a peg, pin
... nail, paddle, pin, stake. From an unused root meaning to pin through or fast; a
peg -- nail, paddle, pin, stake. << 3488, 3489. yathed. 3490 >>. Strong's Numbers
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8628. taqa -- to thrust, clap, give a blow, blast
... A primitive root; to clatter, ie Slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument);
by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to ...
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