Nail: For fastening.1. Hebrew yathed, "piercing," a peg or nail of any material
(Ezekiel 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)
3. The nails by which our Lord was fixed to the cross are mentioned
(John 20:25; Colossians 2:14)
4. Nail of the finger (Heb. 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."
