Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, nails are mentioned in various passages, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. They are primarily referenced in the construction of sacred spaces and in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, each carrying significant theological implications.
Old Testament References1.
Construction and Craftsmanship: Nails are mentioned in the context of building and craftsmanship. In the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple, nails were used to fasten materials securely. For instance, in
1 Chronicles 22:3, it is noted, "David provided a large quantity of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed." This highlights the importance of nails in the construction of sacred spaces, ensuring stability and durability.
2.
Symbol of Security and Permanence: In
Isaiah 22:23, a nail is used metaphorically to describe a person who will be firmly established: "I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, and he will become a throne of glory for his father's house." Here, the nail symbolizes security and permanence, indicating a position of strength and reliability.
New Testament References1.
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ: The most significant mention of nails in the New Testament is in the context of the crucifixion. While the specific term "nail" is not always used, the act of nailing Jesus to the cross is a central event in the Gospels. In
John 20:25, Thomas refers to the nails when he expresses doubt about Jesus' resurrection: "So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he replied, 'Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.'" This passage underscores the physical reality of Jesus' crucifixion and the tangible evidence of His suffering and sacrifice.
2.
Symbol of Redemption and Sacrifice: The nails of the crucifixion are emblematic of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They represent the physical suffering He endured for the redemption of humanity. The imagery of the nails serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of sin and the depth of God's love, as expressed in passages like
Colossians 2:14, which speaks of Christ having "canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross."
Theological SignificanceNails in the Bible carry a dual significance. In the Old Testament, they are practical tools essential for construction and symbolize strength and permanence. In the New Testament, they become profound symbols of Christ's sacrifice, representing the physical and spiritual realities of His crucifixion. The imagery of nails thus bridges the practical and the divine, illustrating themes of creation, redemption, and eternal security in the Christian faith.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Nail- Of finger. (a) A nail or claw of man or animal. (b) A point or style e.g. for writing; see (Jeremiah 17:1)
- (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.
ATS Bible Dictionary
NailThe "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 9:8Ezekiel 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 3:9Ecclesiastes 12:11Isaiah 41:7Jeremiah 10:4.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
For fastening.
(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 inDeuteronomy 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). InJeremiah 17:1 this word is rendered "point."
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) the horny scale of plate of epidermis at the end of the fingers and toes of man and many apes.
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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
NAILnal: (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 (inJudges 4:21 the Revised Version (British and American), "tent-pin"); inIsaiah 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); compareEcclesiastes 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 inIsaiah 41:7 andJeremiah 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" inColossians 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
Greek
4338. proseloo -- tonail to... to
nail to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proseloo Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-ay-lo'-o) Short Definition: I
nail to Definition: I fasten with nails,
nail...2247. helos -- anail
... helos. 2248 . anail. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: helos Phonetic
Spelling: (hay'-los) Short Definition: anail Definition: anail....
4557. sardonux -- sardonyx
... sardonyx. From the base of sardios and onux (thenail of a finger; hence the "onyx"
stone); a "sardonyx", ie The gem so called -- sardonyx. see GREEK sardios....
Strong's Hebrew
2953. tephar -- anail, claw... 2952, 2953. tephar. 2954 . a
nail, claw. Transliteration: tephar Phonetic
Spelling: (tef-ar') Short Definition: claws. Word
...nail. (Aramaic
...4548. masmer -- anail
... anail. Transliteration: masmer or mismer or masmerah or mismerah or masmerah
Phonetic Spelling: (mas-mare') Short Definition: nails....nail....
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....
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...
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
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 (anail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to...
Library
TheNail
... Names And Titles of the Antichrist 17. TheNail. "In that day, saith the
Lord of hosts, shall theNail that is fastened in the sure...
The Nailing of Jesus to the Cross.
... The executioners did not allow him to rest long, but bade him rise and
place himself on the cross that they mightnail him to it....
Forgiveness and Retribution.
... "Yes, sir.". "Now anail and a piece of pine board.". "Here they are, sir.". "Will
you drive thenail into the board?". It was done. "Please pull it out again."...
Comenius and the Hidden Seed, 1627-1672.
... "I contributed anail or two," he says,54 "to strengthen the new throne." What sort
ofnail he means we do not know. The new throne did not stand very long....
Tire-Trouble
... In the first place, a tire often gets punctured by anail running into it. Then
there are "blow-outs" caused by the inner tube giving way....
For all the Good Performed by Thee,
... To bear Thee from the judgment-seat. Andnail Thee to the cruel tree;... 'Twas not
enough they should betray. Andnail Thee to the Cross to die;...
Other Graces Bestowed on the Saint. The Promises of Our Lord to...
... He appeared to me as at other times, and began to show the wound in His left hand;
with the other He drew out the greatnail that was in it, and it seemed to...
How St Francis Appeared, after his Death, to Brother John of...
... "Touch once more," said St Francis, "thisnail which is in my hand." Then Brother
John, with great fear and reverence, touched thatnail, and as he touched it...
John viii. 31, 32
... Thus the Prophet prayeth, saying, "Nail my flesh by Thy fear" ( Psalm 119:120 ,
LXX.); "do Thou so fix and join me, as by anail riveted into me." For as men...
Facts Show that the Terms of Abuse which He Has Employed against...
... Then in trying to conceal his falsehood he drives out onenail with anothernail,
as the proverb says, and puts one falsehood right by cancelling it with...
Thesaurus
Nail (9 Occurrences)... For fastening. (1.) Hebrew yathed, "piercing," a peg or
nail of any material
(Ezek.
... (2.) Masmer, a "point," the usual word for a
nail.
...Peg (8 Occurrences)
... etc.; as, a shoe peg. 2. (n.) A wooden pin, ornail, on which to hang things,
as coats, etc. Hence, colloquially and figuratively: A...
Onycha (1 Occurrence)
... Anail; claw; hoof, (Hebrews sheheleth; Exodus 30:34), a Latin word applied to the
operculum, ie, the claw ornail of the strombus or wing-shell, a univalve...
Spike (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A sort of very largenail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points
upward or outward. 2. (n.) Anything resembling such anail in shape....
Fastened (43 Occurrences)
... Judges 4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took anail of the tent, and took an hammer in
her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote thenail into his temples, and...
Quick (49 Occurrences)
... point; a vital part; a part susceptible of serious injury or keen feeling; the
sensitive living flesh; the part of a finger or toe to which thenail is attached...
Nailed (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofNail. Multi-Version Concordance
Nailed (9 Occurrences). Mark 15:24 And he was nailed to...
Jael (6 Occurrences)
... She then took in her left hand one of the great wooden pins ("nail") which fastened
down the cords of the tent, and in her right hand the mallet, or "hammer...
Pin (10 Occurrences)
... Exodus 27:19; Exodus 35:18; Exodus 38:20, 31; 39:40 Numbers 3:37; Numbers 4:32 Judges
4:21, where the King James Version translates "nail," the Revised Version...
Weary (77 Occurrences)
... Judges 4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took anail of the tent, and took an hammer in
her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote thenail into his temples, and...
Resources
What is the history of crucifixion? What was crucifixion like? | GotQuestions.orgWas Jesus crucified on a cross, pole, or stake? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Tammuz? | GotQuestions.orgNail: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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